Dark Shadows™ 'Wicked' Coneflower (Echinacea)
Perennial
- Watermelon-pink blooms stand out against dark stems!
- Attracts hummingbirds and other pollinators.
- Upright habit grows in a bouquet pattern, keeping blooms concentrated.
- Zones 4-9, sun, 16" tall x 14" wide at maturity.
ZONE
EXPOSURE
HEIGHT
Description
Coneflowers are native perennials beloved by gardeners for their cheery flowers, pollinator-attracting power, and easy-growing nature. Their flowers attract bees and butterflies; after they fade, seedheads provide food for birds through the winter. Since they're drought tolerant, deer resistant, and durable, they are easy for gardeners of any level to enjoy.
Details
Common name: Coneflower
Zone: 4-9
Sun exposure: Sun (> 6 hours sun)
Height x width: 12-16″ X 14"
Flower color: Pink
Foliage color: Green
Season of interest: Summer
Bloom time: Summer - fall
Features: Deer resistant, container plants, drought tolerant, heat tolerant
Uses: Cottage garden, specimen, pollinator garden, foundation planting, massing, wildlife gardens, cut flower, border
How to Grow
Light: Full sun (> 6 hours sun) for best flowering and foliage color.
Water: Average
Spacing: 20”
Fertilizing: Nothing special is required. If desired, apply a general-purpose garden fertilizer in early spring.
Winterizing: Avoid damp spots. Do not heap mulching over crowns in winter, as this can cause rot. Leave the foliage and old flowers standing for winter (birds enjoy the seed heads), then trim back or remove spent foliage in early spring before new growth emerges.
Maintenance & pruning: Deadheading (snipping off the spent blooms) is not necessary but does increase new flower production.
Plant spacing is based on the ultimate width of the plants. This figure is normally given as a range; for example, 3-5’. If you live in a cold climate and/or want plants to fill in more quickly, plan to space at the shorter end of the range. If you live in a warm climate, are on a limited budget, or are willing to wait longer for plants to touch, use the higher end of the range. Using the larger number is recommended when calculating distance from a building or structure. There’s really no such thing as "maximum spacing": if you don’t want your plants to touch, you can space them as far apart as you’d like. All plant spacing is calculated on center, or in other words, the centers of the plants are spaced one half of their eventual width apart:
Unless you are planting in a straight line, as you might for hedges or edging, space your plants in a staggered or zig-zag pattern for a more interesting and naturalistic look:
Not sure just how many plants will fit in your garden? Our calculator gives you the exact amount of plants required for your space. Simply update the values and the calculator will re-calculate accordingly. Spacing information can be found in the 'How to Grow' tab on each plant's page.