Coneflowers are good for garden cultivation, owing to their bright and attractive colors. A short account of the different varieties is presented here.
The term coneflower is commonly used in reference to the flowering plant genera, namely Dracopis, Rudbeckia, Echinacea, and Ratibida. However, there are many more genera, which can be grouped under this category.
The coneflower varieties, mostly belonging to the genus Echinacea, have been described further.
The Varieties
Here is a list of flowering plants that are suitable for gardening, due to the ease with which they can be cultivated. By choosing the varieties from these, one can decorate the garden with different colorful blooms.
Coneflower care, in comparison to other different varieties, is a bit easier. One should, therefore, make use of them in a garden to enhance its elegance.
Echinacea purpurea 'Bright Star'
Petals of this coneflower have two shades, i.e., maroon purple (dark) near the center, and purplish pink on edges.
The central cone of the flower is spiky and coppery-brown in color. The blooming season of Bright Star continues for two months, i.e., July and August.
Echinacea 'After Midnight'
This variety produces purple-red blooms that have wide petals. Cones of these flowers are black-red in color. Profuse branching of the 'After Midnight' makes them a perfect plant for containers. The blue-green foliage and purple-red petals of this flower are good for the purpose of presentation. The plant produces blooms in July and August.
Rudbeckia fulgida 'Goldsturm'
It is one of the coneflower varieties that is considered to be good for mass planting. The plants of this variety produce daisies, with golden-orange petals and brown cones. The Goldsturm variety is mainly used for mass planting, along with ornamental grasses.
Flowering season continues from mid-summer to fall. Average moisture is enough for its proper growth; it can grow well in both, clay and sandy soils. Blooming time can be increased by removing faded flowers on a regular basis.
Echinacea purpurea 'Doubledecker'
Doubledecker is actually a two-tiered flower; rose-pink colored petals are at the base, while shorter petals are set at the upper portion of the cone. Flowers of this plant bloom in the summer season. One should note that two-tiered flowers are produced only from the second year; in the first year, the plant produces single flowers.
Echinacea 'Firebird'
These flowers have red-orange petals, and they generally droop down. The cone is black in color. As the name suggests, Firebird brings in a lot of energy, and completely changes the appearance of a dull-looking garden.
Fragrant Angel
The fragrant flowers of this variety are white in color. They fit well among all other perennial plants in the garden. Amid the different colors of flowers in a garden, white color of Fragrant Angels is soothing to the eyes.
Their petals are arranged in an overlapping pattern, and their cone is golden yellow in color.
Echinacea 'Tiki Torch'
This variety produces bright orange flowers, which are produced on upright stems that branch out profusely. Flowering season continues from midsummer till the end of fall. The bright orange blooms of this plant can be used as focal points in a garden.