Echinacea purpurea Ruby Giant (Coneflower)
Award-winning Echinacea ‘Ruby Giant’ is an upright perennial boasting a profusion of huge, fragrant flowers, 5 in. wide (12 cm), with slightly reflexed, red-purple rays that fade to light purple as they mature. This clonal selection from the original Echinacea ‘Rubinstern’ seed presents a double row of petals held horizontally for maximum impact and effect. Free-flowering, its brownish central disk may grow up to 2 in. (5 cm) tall!
Award-winning Echinacea 'Ruby Giant' is an upright perennial boasting a profusion of huge, fragrant flowers, 5 in. wide (12 cm), with slightly reflexed, red-purple rays that fade to light purple as they mature. This clonal selection from the original Echinacea 'Rubinstern' seed presents a double row of petals held horizontally for maximum impact and effect. Free-flowering, its brownish central disk may grow up to 2 in. (5 cm) tall! Blooming from mid to late summer, sometimes with additional sporadic bloom until frost, this attractive coneflower is perfect for perennial borders, prairies and cottage gardens.
- Recipient of the prestigious Award of Garden Merit of the Royal Horticultural Society.
- Grows up to 20-36 in. tall (50-90 cm) and 24 in. wide (60 cm).
- Thrives in full sun in average, dry to medium moisture, well drained soils. Tolerant of drought, heat and humidity.
- Perfect choice for beds and borders, prairies and meadows, wildflower gardens or cottage gardens.
- Excellent as cut flowers. If flower heads are not removed in the fall, the blackened cones will be visited by birds that feed on the seeds.
- No serious pest or disease issues. Attractive to butterflies, hummingbirds and other pollinators, but deer resistant.
- Remove spent flowers and cut back the stems to encourage further blooms.
- Propagate by division in spring or fall or by root cuttings from late fall to early winter.
Requirements
Hardiness | 4 – 9 |
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Heat Zones | 1 – 9 |
Climate Zones | 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, A2, A3 |
Plant Type | Perennials |
Plant Family | Echinacea – Coneflowers |
Exposure | Full Sun |
Season of Interest | Summer (Mid,Late)Fall |
Height | 1' – 3' (30cm – 90cm) |
Spread | 1' – 2' (30cm – 60cm) |
Spacing | 24″ – 30″ (60cm – 75cm) |
Water Needs | Low, Average |
Maintenance | Low |
Soil Type | Chalk, Loam, Sand |
Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
Soil Drainage | Well-Drained |
Characteristics | Dried Arrangements, Cut Flowers, Fragrant, Plant of Merit, Showy |
Tolerance | Clay Soil, Deer, Drought, Dry Soil, Rocky Soil |
Attracts | Birds, Butterflies, Hummingbirds |
Garden Uses | Beds and Borders, Patio and Containers, Small Gardens |
Garden Styles | Informal and Cottage, Prairie and Meadow |