The butterflies and bees love the flowers, and birds—like American Goldfinches—enjoy the seedheads. That’s why I make sure to include purple coneflowers (Echinacea purpurea) in all of my flowerbeds.
I’ve had to replace a number of perennials that didn’t survive the 2013-14 Polar Vortex or last year’s bitter winter. I’ve been filling in those spots with purple coneflowers and sedums instead because both are tough species.
Last summer I gave ‘Prairie Splendor’ a try:
The plants grow about 2 feet tall with slightly-downward-arching, bright-pink petals.
‘Prairie Splendor’ isn’t fussy about its growing conditions and can handle clay, rocky or dry soils. It also tolerates a variety of light conditions. I tucked my new plant into an area that only receives about 4 hours of sun each day and it bloomed just as consistently as coneflowers that I have growing in full sun.
Coneflowers don’t usually have any pest or disease problems, but one summer I did have a family of rabbits that mowed all my plants to the ground. However, that’s the only time that’s ever happened to me in 25+ years of gardening. Perhaps that bunch of bunnies had a more refined palate.
‘Prairie Splendor’ is a European Fleuroselect 2007 Gold Medal winner and is hardy in Zones 3-8.