Echinacea hybrida 'Paradiso Tall Mix'

Echinacea 'Paradiso' is an outstanding series of the familiar 'Cone Flower' and one of late summer's most garden worthy forms.
A first year flowering perennial they are distinguished by the exceptionally large flowers which grow 8cm to 10cm (3 to 4in) wide. Echinacea 'Paradiso Tall Mix' blooms in a large range of shades including some softer hues. Magenta, purple, orange, peach cream, yellow and white.

Echinacea 'Paradiso' plants have good vigour and robust strong stems that branch from the base, the plants grow to 75 to 90cm (30 to 36in) tall. They have a long flowering season appearing in late June and bloom well into September.
A hardy perennial that can be enjoyed for many years, the seeds can also be collected from this variety, and sown from year to year. They can be used for perennial beds, for high-impact landscaping and as a cut-flower. The blooms last well as cut or dried flower.

Echinacea plants are very easy to grow and cope well with adverse weather conditions. They thrive in average soils or hot, dry conditions, shrug off cold, and are equally at home in full sun or partial shade.
The flowers have a beautiful shape and are made up of a raised central cone of bronze disk flowers which attract many butterflies, bees and other pollinating insects. In autumn the large cone at the heart of the flower head turns black as the seeds mature, adding further interest for the garden and providing nourishment for birds.

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.

NGB. 2014 Year of the Echinacea:
Echinacea was chosen as the National Garden Bureau’s 2014 Perennial of the Year because of the vast assortment of flower colours and shapes available to today’s gardener but also because they are such a garden staple. The classic flower shape continues to be a favorite in home and public gardens, a ‘tried and true’ classic sure to please any home gardener.
The demand for Echinacea, its species and hybrids have exploded in recent years. To supply this new demand, Echinacea is benefiting from a significant growth in breeding activity. In garden centres it remains a ‘top five’ perennial in terms of retail sales. Several advances have produced plants that have set a new standard in compact-growing, well-branched Echinacea. Breeding trials have resulted in bringing free-flowering plants to market that overwinter successfully in cooler areas.
Historically, Echinacea with bolder colour hues (red, yellow, orange) have been grown from tissue culture liners, but poor winter hardiness has been a source of frustration for gardeners. Propagation by tissue culture can lack good winter hardiness and may not bulk up in size in subsequent seasons. However, recent breeding has been focused into developed seed-grown varieties selected specifically for their bold colouring and trialed for overwintering success.