Coneflower

Echinacea Sunrise

• Position: full sun
• Soil: any soil type except boggy
• Rate of growth: average
• Flowering period: June to September
• Hardiness: fully hardy
  
  Huge, yellow, daisy-like flower with reflexed petals and greenish centres appear from June to August. The scented flowers are a massive 12cm (5in) across and fade to a pale apricot. It is a tough plant that does not need staking and it makes an excellent cut flower. Like other coneflowers, it is long-flowering and will cope well with adverse weather conditions, except drought. Try it dotted through a sunny, mixed border, in bold drifts among grasses or as part of a 'hot' colour scheme. It is attractive to bees and butterflies, and birds will flock to the seedheads.

• Garden care: Lift and divide congested colonies in autumn or spring. In autumn cut back all dead flower stems to the ground. Coneflowers benefit from a spring or autumn mulch with well-rotted compost.