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

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