Echinacea

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This is currently a 'fashion' perennial with many new varieties coming into market each year. We like it mostly because of its simple, wildflower-liked form, and its summer blooming season. We are still in the process of learning how to use this plant effectively. A few of them have compact neat habit, but many of them can loosen their structures as the season progress. We are still experimenting with various companion plants to compensate for their loose structural habit. Giving it as much sun as possible may also help to stabulize its structure longer. Some of their flower colours may not be the easiest to match, depending on your personal taste.

Most species are native to central Canada, and are known to be short-lived. I should try to remember to divide some of the more mature clumps before they disappear from the garden.

Echinacea 'Coconut Lime'

This is a cool elegant plant (at least colour-wise). It appears to be a good plant for composition, readily matching most colours, but needs some structural support for longer season look. It is relatively new to our garden and is still under observation.

Echinacea "Green Envy'

The colour of this Echinacea is difficult to use, and its first year performance has been disappointing. Perhaps, it should go with some dark colour foliage or flower next year.

Echinacea 'Green Eyes'

It would be better if the green eyes would stay long enough to be appreciated. Its flowers appear to peak much later than my other Echinacea; an attribute that can be made use of.

Echinacea 'Harvest Moon'

I hope next spring I can make use this Echinacea. It does not appear to be very vigorous in its second year.

Echinacea 'Mango Meadowbrite'

I hope next spring I can make use this Echinacea. Like 'Havest Moon', it does not appear to be very vigorous in its second year.

Echinacea pallida

We like the 'weeping' petals of its flower that can provide some 'artistic strokes' in a garden composition.

Echinacea 'Pink Double Delight'

We acquired this one because it is supposed to have softer pink colour and more delicate looking flower than 'Razzmatazz'. So far, in its first year, the only different I noted was the relatively smaller flowers and more flower buds. We will see. It does not appear to be very vigorous structure-wise.

Echinacea purpurea 'Kim's Knee High'

This is probably one of the best Echinaceas for garden composition (in spite of the awful name). It has abundant neatly formed flowers with beautiful eyes on a compact structure which remains through the season.

Echinacea purpurea 'Magnus'

I have sown these from seeds a few years back. The results were very satisfying. They don't look any less attractive than many of the new cultivars on the market, depending on how they are being used. They do need some support or tidy up as the season progress.

Echinacea 'Razzmatazz'

This one performed poorly in its first year with very few blooms.

Echinacea 'Rocky Top'

This is an impulse acquisition; still looking for notable characteristics (more starry and pointy appearance?). We will see.....

Echinacea purpurea 'Rubin's Glow'

On the catalog picture, this plant did not look particularly 'special'. It turned out that this plant has just as much attributes for composition as 'Kim's Knee High'. It is taller, and the stiffer flower form, plus a darker and 'glowing' colour allow it to contrast nicely with other echinaceas or perennials.

Echinacea 'Rubinstein'

This is another impulse acquisition; still looking for notable characteristics. We will see.....

Echinacea 'Summer Sky'

This one was has a less flashy and more subtle colour than 'Sundown'. The flower form also has a more 'soothing' look IMHO.

Echinacea 'Sundown'

This one was acquired on impluse, and started our collection impluse on Echinacea. We like the colour and form even though the colour fades quickly. It tends to get not too neat looking towards the end of summer. We will be trying other companion plants for it next year.

Echinacea 'White Swan'

I didn't think much of this one until I started using it in the garden. Its appears more elegant in the garden than in the catalog. Its dark green eyes give it a pristine elegance, and more than distinguish it from other daisy-liked white flowers.

Echinacea 'Twlight'

Its picture in the catalog looks very promising. The plant I have is very weak. We will see.....