General Culture:

Easily grown in average, dry to medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. Best in full sun. This is an adaptable plant that is tolerant of drought, heat, humidity and poor soil. Divide clumps when they become overcrowded (about every 4 years). Plants usually rebloom without deadheading, however prompt removal of spent flowers improves general appearance. ‘Prairie Frost’ plants will not come true from seed.

Noteworthy Characteristics:

‘Prairie Frost’ is the first purple coneflower with variegated foliage. It was discovered in 1996 as a chance seedling in a planting of E. ‘Bravado’. This is an erect perennial that typically grows in an upright clump to 26” tall. It features toothed, tapering, narrow-ovate, dark green leaves (to 6” long) with irregular creamy white margins. Daisy-like coneflowers (to 3” diameter) with rosy purple rays and bronze-brown central cones bloom from June to August, often with some sporadic later bloom. The dead flower stems will remain erect well into the winter, and if flower heads are not removed, the blackened cones are often visited by goldfinches that feed on the seeds. Echinacea comes from the Greek word “echinos” meaning hedgehog in reference to the flower’s spiny center cone. U. S. Plant Patent Applied For (PPAF).

Problems:

No serious insect or disease problems. Japanese beetle, powdery mildew and fungal leaf spots are occasional problems.

Uses:

Border fronts, cottage gardens or part shade areas of open woodland gardens.

© Missouri Botanical Garden, 2001-2010