Echinacea hybrida 'Cheyenne Spirit F1'

Echinacea purpurea 'Cheyenne Spirit' is the latest Gold Medal Winner of the species. A medium-sized variety of Echinacea, this cultivar will provide a mix of flower colours. Not limited to one colour, each plant can bloom in a sumptuous range of colour. Gold, Scarlet, Orange, Rosy-Red, Cream, Purple and Yellow.
First year flowering and a must have for perennial borders, the large flowers are centered on a prominent, well-rounded, and bristly brown cone. The plants have has a solid, bushy, upright, and dense habit, reaching 75 to 90cm (30 to 36in) in height and 35cm (14in) in width.

Originally a wild prairie flower and now hardly recognised, flowering takes place from late June and into September, and is slightly fragrant and highly attractive to butterflies. The branched stems are topped with a solitary head-like inflorescence, measuring 10 to 12cm (4 to 5in) in diameter.
A stylish cut flower, the super robust, hardy and very floriferous perennial plants have brilliant robust but elegant stems that can withstand all weathers. Adapting to difficult conditions, occasionally tolerating intense heat, humidity, and drought this multi-award-winning variety brings life to flower borders or containers like few perennials can.
This vivid new mixture is a complete innovation in first-year flowering seed perennials. With its rich colour palette evoking the spirit of the North American plains and prairies where this genus has its origin, Echinacea 'Cheyenne Spirit' will delight and inspire growers and consumers alike.

• Awarded the Fleuroselect Gold Medal
  Fleuroselect, the international organisation for the ornamental plants industry have awarded Echinacea 'Cheyenne Spirit F1' the Fleuroselect Gold Medal. The Gold medal is only awarded to the most innovative varieties and symbolises excellence, in both breeding and beauty.
  This vivid new mixture is a complete innovation in first-year flowering seed perennials and in Echinacea. With its rich colour palette evoking the spirit of the North American plains and prairies where this genus has its origin, Echinacea 'Cheyenne Spirit' will delight and inspire growers and consumers alike. In addition to raving about the colour mix, the Fleuroselect judges also praised this variety for its good plant habit, flower quality and its uniformity, exceptional for a first-year flowering variety. A true winner in Gold, and in Scarlet, Orange, Rosy-Red, Cream, Purple and Yellow too!
• All America Selections.
  Echinacea Cheyenne Spirit is also the recipient of the All-America Selections award for performance. This season-long bloomer has excellent heat tolerance and flowering habit

Sowing:
Sow seeds undercover in late winter to spring or in late summer to autumn. Echinacea will flower in 11 to 15 weeks so if started indoors early enough, it is possible to get flowers in the first season.

Sowing Indoors:
Sow at 20 to 24°C (68 to 75°F), Fill pots or trays with a good seed starting mix (John Innes or similar). Moisten by standing the pots in water, then drain.
Surface sow the seed and press lightly into the soil. Seeds need light to germinate, so do not cover the seeds or use only a light sprinkling of vermiculite. The compost should be kept moist but not wet at all times. Germination may start after only 5 days but may take up to 20 days. Prick out each seedling as it becomes large enough to handle, transplant into 7.5cm (3in) pots or trays to grow on. Plant out in spring into well drained soil. Gradually acclimatise to outdoor conditions for 10 to 15 days before planting out.
In their natural environment, the seeds would germinate after a period of cold, so if there is little or no germination move the tray to a cold area: at around 4°C (39°F) for 2 to 4 weeks. Once you have picked out the remaining seedlings place the tray outdoors in a sheltered area for the winter. Come back to it in spring, more seedlings may await!

Cultivation:
Echinacea are generally low maintenance. Grow in deep, well-drained, humus-rich soil ideally in full sun although they can tolerate some shade. Plant in light shade in hot climates. They are tolerant of drought, heat, humidity and poor soil. Avoid over-watering as Echinacea prefer drier conditions once established. No additional fertilising is necessary as heavy fertilisation leads to tall, leggy plants that flop.
These plants are easy to grow although, as with many perennials, they usually take more than one growing season to truly begin to flower. Cut back stems as the blooms fade to encourage further flower production.
Once they are established Echinacea will freely self seed if some deadheads are left intact.
Goldfinch fight for the seeds. If you want to harvest them cover with a net after the seed begins to form. The seed can be difficult to harvest and are easiest after rain or early in the morning when they are wet from dew. The prickly seed heads are soft and pliable, they can be broken in half with your fingers and the seeds picked out.
Dividing every few years will keep them healthy. Divided in spring or autumn, although this should not be too often and care should be taken as they resent a lot of disturbance.

Harvesting Seeds:
After the first frost when all of the stems and flower heads are dry and have blackened, use garden gloves to protect your hands and cut stems 20 to 30cm (8 to 12in) below the head and place upside down in a paper bag. If you live in a humid climate, allow your seed heads to fully dry before shaking the seeds loose from the heads.
Otherwise, before cutting down, the stems can simply be shook to allow some seeds to fall and self sow for future years. If seeds are not needed, the stems can be left for winter interest and to provide nourishment for birds.

Cut Flowers:
While most home garden Echinacea is a garden ornamental, it can also be grown as a fresh or dried cut flower. Allow flowers to mature on the plant before harvesting. Fresh Echinacea has a short vase life of seven days. Dry by hanging upside down in a well-ventilated, dry area.

Plant Uses:
Cottage/Informal Garden, Cut Flowers and Flower Arranging, Flowers Borders and Beds, Prairie Planting, Wildflower Gardens or Wildlife Gardens.

Origin:
Echinacea is a genus in the aster family. There are nine species of Echinacea. The family is native to the central and south-eastern parts of the United States.
Some species, for example E. angustifolia, E. purpurea, and E. pallida, are widespread. (These three species are most commonly found in herb products). E.purpurea prefers relatively damp sites in semi-shadow such as the edges of forests and embankments, from lowlands to elevations of 1500 metres.
While other species, including E. tennesseensis (obviously from Tennessee), the rare Appalachian species E. laevigata, and E. paradoxa, are found in narrowly restricted areas. E. tennesseensis and E. laevigata are on the list of endangered plant species.
The yellow-flowered E. paradoxa (the paradox of this "purple coneflower" is that it is yellow) and E. simulata (simulating E. pallida), are both native to the Ozarks of Arkansas and Missouri.
Other unusual species include E. atrorubens, which occurs in eastern Kansas and Oklahoma, and E. sanguinea, which occurs in Louisiana and eastern Texas, with one population in southwestern Arkansas.

Nomenclature:
The name Echinacea is derived from the Greek word echino which means spiky or prickly, referring to the plant’s floral centre. Pronounced eck-in-ay-see-uh
The species name hybrida indicates this is a hybrid between a number of species.
The common name of Coneflower is shared with a number of species including Rudbeckia.

Fleuroselect:
Fleuroselect is the international organisation for the ornamental plants industry. Its main activities include the testing, protecting and promoting of new flower varieties. Membership includes breeders, producers and distributors of ornamental varieties. Fleuroselect is run by the members, for the members. A small secretariat operates from the organisational headquarters currently based in Noordwijk, The Netherlands.
In order to support and stimulate the development of new ornamental varieties, Fleuroselect conducts trials of new varieties entered by members on approximately 20 private trial grounds spread across Europe. Both indoor and outdoor trials can be conducted. Through the trials, the newness, the practical use, the quality and the exclusivity of the entries are determined. Genuinely new varieties receive recognition either as Fleuroselect Approved Novelties or Gold Medal winners. The Fleuroselect Gold Medal is awarded to innovative varieties that clearly surpass the limits in breeding and beauty. This symbolises excellence in breeding.
Many awarded varieties are widely supported and distributed by Fleuroselect members. The organisation also promotes the winners by way of press releases and displays at trade fairs and in gardens all over the world. Professional growers and hobby gardeners all over the world recognise the Fleuroselect awards as certificates of exceptional merit.
Whilst many varieties of Echinacea are propagated from tissue culture, Seed breeders have in recent years been actively involved in the development of top-quality seed-raised Echinacea hybrids. The internationally awarded 'PowWow' Echinacea series was the first product of this breeding programme from the hand of breeder Jian-Ping Ren Ph.D, which is now extended with the introduction of Echinacea 'Cheyenne Spirit', a deserving winner of the Fleuroselect Gold Medal.