Ratibida columnifera (Mexican Hat Plant)
Upright Prairie Coneflower, Mexican Hat, Mexican Hat Plant, Prairie Coneflower, Prairieconeflower, Redspike Mexican Hat, Column Flower, Obelisk Flower, Rudbeckia columnaris, Rudbeckia columnifera
Ratibida columnifera (Mexican Hat Plant) is an upright, clump-forming perennial boasting profuse, golden yellow or vibrant rust-red daisies with 3-7 drooping rays surrounding a long and prominent central disk - resembling a sombrero with a drooping brim. Blooming beautifully from late spring to fall, the blossoms open on slender stems with bright green, feathery, and deeply cleft leaves. Attracting butterflies, they often bloom by the thousands and provide weeks of eye-catching color. Their attractive seedheads further extend the season of interest and will be visited in the fall and winter by birds that feed on the seeds.
- Grows up to 1-3 ft. tall (30-90 cm) and 12-18 in. wide (30-45 cm). This plant self-sows abundantly.
- Performs best in full sun in average, dry to medium moisture, well-drained soils. Mexican Hat is a fast-growing wildflower that is not fussy about soils and is easy to grow from seed. Tolerates drought, light shade and poor soils.
- Easy to grow, pest and disease-free, low care.
- Great for sunny borders, prairies or meadows, and cottage gardens. Best massed!
- Native to North America
Buy Ratibida columnifera (Mexican Hat Plant)
Requirements
| Hardiness | 4
– 9 |
|---|---|
| Climate Zones | 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, A1, A2, A3, H1, H2 |
| Plant Type | Perennials |
| Exposure | Full Sun |
| Season of Interest |
Spring (Late) Summer (Early,Mid,Late) Fall |
| Height | 1' – 3' (30cm – 90cm) |
| Spread | 1' – 2' (30cm – 60cm) |
| Spacing | 18" – 24" (45cm – 60cm) |
| Water Needs | Low |
| Maintenance | Low |
| Soil Type | Loam, Sand |
| Soil pH | Alkaline, Neutral |
| Soil Drainage | Well-Drained |
| Characteristics | Cut Flowers, Showy |
| Native Plants | United States, Midwest, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Northeast, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Pacific Northwest, Idaho, Rocky Mountains, Colorado, Montana, Utah, Wyoming, Southeast, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, West Virginia, Southwest, Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas |
| Tolerance | Drought, Dry Soil |
| Attracts | Butterflies |
| Garden Uses | Beds and Borders, Patio and Containers |
| Garden Styles | Informal and Cottage, Prairie and Meadow |
Alternative Plants to Consider
Recommended Companion Plants
Find In One of Our Guides or Gardens
Richard A McMillin, Steve Shoup, Shuterstock
While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.
Requirements
| Hardiness | 4
– 9 |
|---|---|
| Climate Zones | 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, A1, A2, A3, H1, H2 |
| Plant Type | Perennials |
| Exposure | Full Sun |
| Season of Interest |
Spring (Late) Summer (Early,Mid,Late) Fall |
| Height | 1' – 3' (30cm – 90cm) |
| Spread | 1' – 2' (30cm – 60cm) |
| Spacing | 18" – 24" (45cm – 60cm) |
| Water Needs | Low |
| Maintenance | Low |
| Soil Type | Loam, Sand |
| Soil pH | Alkaline, Neutral |
| Soil Drainage | Well-Drained |
| Characteristics | Cut Flowers, Showy |
| Native Plants | United States, Midwest, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Northeast, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Pacific Northwest, Idaho, Rocky Mountains, Colorado, Montana, Utah, Wyoming, Southeast, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, West Virginia, Southwest, Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas |
| Tolerance | Drought, Dry Soil |
| Attracts | Butterflies |
| Garden Uses | Beds and Borders, Patio and Containers |
| Garden Styles | Informal and Cottage, Prairie and Meadow |
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