Echinacea purpurea ‘Hope’ (Coneflower)

Rated as “the truest clear pink blooms” by Mt Cuba Center, this fragrant coneflower is absolutely charming. Echinacea ‘Hope’ bears large, soft pink flowers, up to 4 in. wide (10 cm) with prominent brown cones that are a feast for the eyes! Blooming from mid to late summer, sometimes with additional sporadic bloom until frost, this compact coneflower is perfect for small gardens and containers. Introduced by Terra Nova Nurseries, this Coneflower is dedicated to honor the survivors and victims of breast cancer. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this plant goes to the Susan G. Komen foundation to help further the search for a cure for breast cancer.

• Grows up to 24-30 in. tall (60-75 cm) and 24 in. wide (60 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.