Coneflower Varieties

The name coneflower is commonly used in reference with the flowering plant genera viz., Dracopis, Rudbeckia, Echinacea and Ratibida. There are however, many more genera which can be grouped under coneflower. The coneflower varieties mostly belonging to the genus, Echinacea are described in the following paragraphs. The different characteristics of these flowering plants can be understood through information presented below.

Different Coneflower Varieties

Here is a list of flowering plants that are suitable for gardening due to the ease with which they can be cultivated. By choosing these varieties from those provided below, one can decorate the garden with different colored flowers. Coneflower care in comparison to other flowering varieties is a bit easy. One should therefore, use these flowers for their gardens.

Echinacea purpurea 'Bright Star': Petals of this coneflower have two shades i.e. maroon purple (dark) near the center while purplish pink on edges. Central cone of the flower is spiky and coppery-brown in color. The blooming season of bright star continues for two months i.e. July and August.

Echinacea 'After Midnight': This Echinacea variety produces purple-red flowers that have wide petals. Cones of these flowers are black-red in color. Profuse branching of the 'After Midnight' makes it a perfect plant for containers. The blue-green foliage and purple-red petals of this coneflower are good for the purpose of presentation. The Echinacea 'After Midnight' produces flowers in the months of July and August.

Rudbeckia fulgida 'Goldsturm': It is one of the coneflower varieties that is considered to be good for mass planting. The plants of 'Goldstrum' variety produce daisies with golden-orange petals and brown cones. The Goldstrum variety is mainly used for mass planting along with ornamental grasses. Flowering season continues from mid-summer to fall. Average moisture is enough for the proper growth of this coneflower; it can grow well in both clay and sandy soils. Blooming time can be increased by removing faded flowers on a regular basis.

Echinacea purpurea 'Doubledecker': The Doubledecker is actually a two-tiered flowers; the flower is two-tiered in a sense that rose-pink colored petals are at the base while shorter petals are set at the upper portion of the cone. Flowers of this plant bloom in the summer season. One should note that two-tiered flowers are produced only from the second year; in the first year, the plant however, produces single flowers.

Echinacea 'Firebird': Flowers of the 'Firebird' have red-orange petals and droop down. The cone is black colored. As the name suggests, 'Firebird' brings in a lot of energy and completely changes the appearance of a dull-looking garden.

Fragrant Angel: The fragrant flowers of this variety are white in color. This coneflower variety fits well among all other perennial plants in the garden. Amidst the different colors of flowers in a garden, white color of Fragrant Angels is soothing to the eyes. Petals of this flower are arranged in an overlapping pattern and their cone is golden yellow in color.

Echinacea 'Tiki Torch': The 'Tiki Torch' variety produces bright orange flowers. One can see that blooms are produced on upright stems that branch out profusely. Flowering season continues from midsummer till the end of fall. The bright orange flowers of 'Tiki Torch' can be used as focal points in a garden.

The different types of coneflowers described in the article should inform readers about their appearance and flowering season.