Echinacea ‘Hot Papaya’ (Coneflower)

Incredibly eye-catching, Echinacea ‘Hot Papaya’ is a particularly attractive double Coneflower with large, very fragrant, fiery red-orange flowers, 3 in. across (7 cm), surrounding a papaya pom-pom central cone. Upright, freely branching, its numerous strong and thick flowering stems float with grace above the lush green foliage. The blossoms hold their color well as they mature and make the garden shine. This great-looking perennial provides a vibrant floral display in the garden from mid to late summer, sometimes with additional sporadic bloom until frost. Perfect for perennial borders, prairies and cottage gardens.

• Grows up to 30-36 in. tall (75-90 cm) and 24-30 in. wide (60-75 cm).
• Thrives in full sun in average, dry to medium moisture, well drained soils. Tolerant of drought, heat and humidity.
• Perfect choice for beds and borders, prairies and meadows, wildflower gardens or cottage gardens.
• Excellent as cut flowers. If flower heads are not removed in the fall, the blackened cones will be visited by birds that feed on the seeds.
• No serious pest or disease issues. Attractive to butterflies, hummingbirds and other pollinators, but deer resistant.
• Remove spent flowers and cut back the stems to encourage further blooms.
• Propagate by division in spring or fall or by root cuttings from late fall to early winter.

Echinacea, commonly called Coneflower, has been cultivated as a hardy and showy perennial since the 1700s, both in North America and Europe. Truly an American plant, native to the central and eastern part of the country, it was used by the early Native Americans to cure wounds and infections. A great prairie flower, its bright and large blossoms made a successful transition to the backyard. Traditionally purple, with ray flowers that droop downward off the central cone, Coneflowers today enjoy a rich variety of colors and flower shapes with ray florets held horizontal, single or even doubled, giving them the look of Chrysanthemum. Easily grown from seed, they thrive on neglect.