Perennial of the Month-- July 2008

(eh- ki-NA-see- uh ) (pronunciation at link, turn up volume if too low)

Common name: Orange Meadowbrite™ coneflower

Family: Asteraceae, Aster/Composite

Height x width: 30in x 18-24in.

Growth rate, habit: moderate, upright

Foliage: narrow lance-shaped, dark green 3-5in. long, alternate, simple, 

Flowers: rich "sunset" or "blood" or "tangerine" orange in mid to late summer over 3-5 weeks on branching stems, about 3in. wide, dark maroon rounded central cone, slight sweet fragrance

Hardiness: USDA zones 4-9, heat zones 9-1

Soil: average, well-drained, good drought tolerance once established

Light: full sun, tolerates part shade (less blooms)

Pests and problems: none serious

Landscape habit, uses: borders, cut flowers, massed, butterfly gardens; combine with other new colors of coneflowers, black-eyed susan, interplanted with tall ornamental grasses, daylilies, Russian sage, blue oat grass

Other interest: one of the first of the new wave of alternate colors to the traditional purple and white coneflowers, first orange released; bred by Jim Ault at the Chicago Botanic Gardens and introduced in 2004 by Chicagoland Grows; some believe the Big Sky™ cultivars to be superior; the root was used by native Americans for healing, with much recent research and products for the same

Other culture: may need division under good conditions after 3 years, remove old foliage in spring before new leaves emerge

Propagation: patented (USPP15090, COPF) so commercially by licensed propagators, division at home as needed or from root cuttings

Sources:  many specialty local, mail order, or online perennial nurseries