Coneflower Summer Sun
Butterflies and hummingbirds can't resist these fragrant blooms!
There has never been an Echinacea as much fun to watch as Summer Sun! After all, how many can boast flowers that open one color and then gradually change to another? And these sweet-scented blooms are beautiful in both their "forms"!
The flowers open reddish-orange, a brilliant shade of vermilion that catches the eye from across the garden. Then, as they mature, they acquire golden shades. The petal tips are nicely curved too, adding to the exotic appeal of the flowers! Expect them to begin opening in midsummer and, if picked or deadheaded promptly, to continue partway through fall!
Summer Sun may look like a hothouse beauty, but it's very easy to grow. Reaching 40 inches high (in bloom) but just 12 to 15 inches wide, it's a sun-lover that withstands heat, humidity, drought, poor soil, and even cold without dropping a petal. A selection of the native species, it is left alone by most pests (including deer!), and thrives in all sorts of adversity. You simply can't go wrong by finding a choice spot for it in your sunny border, meadow, or cottage garden! Zones 4-8.
| Genus | Echinacea |
| Variety | 'Summer Sun' |
| PPAF | PPAF |
| Bloom Season | Mid Summer - Early Fall |
| Habit | Upright |
| Zone | 4 - 8 |
| Plant Height | 3 ft 4 in |
| Plant Width | 12 in - 15 in |
| Item Form | 1-Quart |
| Additional Characteristics | Bird Lovers, Bloom First Year, Butterfly Lovers, Cut-and-Come-Again, Easy Care Plants, Flower, Fragrance, Hummingbird Lovers, Long Bloomers, Native, Needs Deadheading, Pest Fighter, Repeat Bloomer |
| Bloom Color | Gold, Light Red, Multi-Color, Orange |
| Foliage Color | Dark Green |
| Light Requirements | Full Sun, Part Shade |
| Moisture Requirements | Dry, Moist, well-drained |
| Resistance | Cold Hardy, Deer Resistance, Disease Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Heat Tolerant, Humidity Tolerant, Pest Resistant |
| Soil Tolerance | Clay, Normal, loamy, Poor, Sandy |
| Uses | Border, Cut Flowers, Everlastings, Outdoor |
| Restrictions | CAN, HI, PR |
