GREEN ENVY™ CONEFLOWER

Echinacea purpurea ‘Green Envy’ PPAF

Unusual lime-green daisy-like flower heads with rose pink rays towards the centers of the petals.  Large cone-shaped center is dark green and lime green.  Long lasting flowers, borne on strong stiff stems are perfect for cut flower arrangements.  This will be something very unusual and spectacular for the garden.  Established clumps can be up to 3 feet in diameter and just as tall.  The leaves are dark green, coarse and lance shaped.  USDA cold hardiness zone 3-9.

ORANGE MEADOWBRITE™ CONEFLOWER

Echinacea hybrid ‘Arts Pride’ PP15,090

This is the first coneflower ever to be released with orange petals!  A true plant breeding breakthrough, Orange Meadowbrite™ has taken the perennial world by storm.  Now gardeners in many climates can enjoy its tropical orange colors from June till September.  The flowers also have a sweet, spicy fragrance as an added bonus.  This wonderful plant will eventually reach dimensions of 2’ wide and high with dark green, glossy leaves.  Once established it will tolerate some drought, but must have adequate drainage in the winter.  Adapted to USDA zones 4 to 9.

PIXIE MEADOWBRITE™ CONEFLOWER

Echinacea hybrid ‘CBG Cone2’ PPAF

Here’s another first from the Chicagoland Grows® program: a true dwarf hybrid coneflower.  The compact habit of this innovative new variety is echoed in its tight pink flowers which are themselves borne on sturdy, upright stems.  There are a great deal of applications for a plant with these dimensions and long lasting color display, both in large and small landscape settings.  This bright and cheery variety is well adapted to full sun situations in USDA zones 4 to 9, with mature dimensions being 18” tall by 20-24” wide.

ELTON KNIGHT CONEFLOWER

Echinacea purpurea ‘Elton Knight’

‘Elton Knight’ is compact and completely stake free.  It is multi flowered per stem.  The flowers are brilliant in color and do not droop down like the species.  Flowers can be up to 6 inches in diameter with many more blooms per plant and may bloom from May to November.  These are strong, bushy plants that will perform for the gardener in their container gardens, perennial gardens and as a long-lasting cut flower.  USDA cold hardiness zone: potentially 3 to 8.

MANGO MEADOWBRITE™ CONEFLOWER

Echinacea hybrid ‘CBG Cone3’ PP16,636

Mango Meadowbrite™ is the second coneflower release from the Chicago Botanic Garden breeding program.  It is similar to Orange Meadowbrite™ in most aspects except that it has no red pigment, thus the blooms are a tropical-looking, deep rich yellow, much like the flesh of a ripe mango fruit.  It too will supply you with blooms all summer long that are even more fragrant than other coneflowers.  Recommended for USDA zones 4 to 9.

PARANOIA CONEFLOWER

Echinacea hybrid (purpurea x paradox)

‘Paranoia’ PP 16,587

This attractive Echinacea is unique due to its dwarf compact habit and yellow narrow petal flowers.  This Echinacea is striking in the perennial garden, and unique as a cut flower.  Amazingly, it is only 12-inches tall when grown in the Eastern USA.  The really good news for growers is that ‘Paranoia’ has a good multiplication rate and these divisions or “splits” can fit into cell packs.  This allows a propagator to sell as a very young plant or as a good-sized liner.  USDA cold hardiness zone 4 and possibly zone 3.