Common Name: coneflower
Type: Herbaceous perennial
Family: Asteraceae
Zone: 3 to 8
Height: 2.00 to 3.00 feet
Spread: 1.00 to 1.50 feet
Bloom Time: June to August
Bloom Description: Yellow-orange to red rays with dark orange center cone
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Dry to medium
Maintenance: Low
Flower: Showy, Fragrant, Good Cut, Good Dried
Attracts: Birds, Butterflies
Tolerate: Deer, Drought, Clay Soil, Dry Soil, Shallow-Rocky Soil
Culture
Easily grown in average, dry to medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. Best in full sun. This is an adaptable plant that is tolerant of drought, heat, humidity and poor soil. Divide clumps when they become overcrowded (about every 4 years). Plants rebloom well without deadheading, however prompt removal of spent flowers encourages continued bloom and improves general appearance.
Noteworthy Characteristics
Echinacea is a genus of seven species all endemic to eastern and central North America. Coneflowers bloom from June to August with some sporadic later bloom. Attractive to butterflies and other insect pollinators. Good fresh cut or dried flower. The dead flower stems will remain erect well into the winter, and if flower heads are not removed, the blackened cones may be visited by goldfinches or other birds that feed on the seeds.
Genus name of Echinacea comes from the Greek word echinos meaning hedgehog or sea-urchin in reference to the spiny center cone found on most flowers in the genus.
‘Hot Summer’ is an upright coneflower whose flowers (each to 4 1/2" diameter) change color as they age. Downward-arching ray flowers open yellow-orange but gradually mature to orange and finally deep red, resulting in an often large number of different flower colors appearing on the same plant at the same time. 'Hot Summer' typically grows in a clump to 30-36" tall and to 16" wide on sturdy, well-branched stems that do not need staking. Flowers bloom from late spring to late summer, sometimes with additional sporadic bloom until frost. Flowers are fragrant. Medium green leaves (to 7” long) are narrow-ovate. 'Hot Summer' was discovered in 2007 as a naturally occurring whole plant mutation (parentage unknown) in a breeding program conducted by Marco van Noor in Warmond, The Netherlands. U.S. Plant Patent PP20,687 was issued on January 26, 2010.
Problems
Susceptible to aster yellows disease and eriophyid mites. Deer tend to avoid this plant.
Uses
Border fronts, rock gardens or part shade areas of open woodland gardens. Best in groups or massed. Attractive specimen/accent.