Echinacea purpurea 'Green Twister'

Coneflower 'Green Twister'

Family: Asteraceae (Aster Family)

       

·        Hardiness Zones:  3-8

·        Height: 2-3 feet

·        Spread: 12-18 inches

·        Bloom Time: July to September

·        Bloom: 4 inch wide daisy-like blooms with horizontal petals, yellow-green at outer edge transitioning to pale mauve toward a central rust-red cone

·        Light: full sun to part shade; blooms best in full sun

·        Soil: any well-drained soil

·        Moisture: dry to medium water needs; drought tolerant once established

·        Use: mass,  group, or specimen in cottage, prairie, and pollinator gardens; borders; winter interest; cut or dried flowers

·        Care: low maintenance; deadhead flowers to encourage longer bloom; cut stems back in spring before new growth appears (as fall stem cuts may funnel water into roots, causing crown rot); divide clumps when overcrowded (about every 4 years)

·        Concerns: no serious insect or disease problems; sometimes subject to aster yellows

·        Native to: hybrid cultivar; species native to eastern and central North America

·        Notes: sturdy foliage, multi-branched stems with deep green, lance-shaped leaves; stems lengthen and strengthen after first year; over-winters well;  flowers attract butterflies and hummingbirds; dried seed heads provide winter interest and food for birds; deer resistant

·        Supplier: started from seed

·        Teaching Garden Location & Code: Naturalistic Garden H149

 

       Content produced through:

       Dane County UWEX Master Gardener Volunteer Program 

 

       Questions?  

       Dane County UWEX Horticulture Program

Oenothera speciosa

Pink Evening Primrose, Pink Ladies

Family: Onagraceae (Evening Primrose)

       

·        Hardiness Zones:  4-9

·        Height: 9-24 inches

·        Spread: 12-18 inches

·        Bloom Time: June to August

·        Bloom: pink (sometimes white), fragrant, bowl-shaped flowers up to 3 inches in diameter with four overlapping petals and  yellow anthers; blooms open in the late afternoon and close in the morning;  flowers mature to oval, ridged seed capsules

·        Light: full sun

·        Soil: loose, well-drained, slightly acidic to neutral, moderate to low fertility

·        Moisture: dry to medium; tolerates some drought; water regularly during first growing season, but infrequently and deeply if needed after that

·        Use: best grown in areas where plants can spread without intruding on other plantings such as meadows, wildflower gardens, pollinator gardens; ideal plant for "problem" dry areas along south- and west-facing walls and pavement areas

·        Care: low maintenance; deadhead flowers only if reseeding is a concern; leave standing over winter and cut stems back to 2-3 inches in spring

·        Concerns: few serious insect or disease problems, although flea beetles can defoliate plants early in season; overly wet conditions may encourage root decay, discolored leaves, and bacterial or fungal problems for foliage

·        Native to: Species native to southwestern U.S.and Mexico

·        Notes: medium green foliage with narrow, lance-shaped leaves; flowers grow on erect to sprawling stems; plants will spread, sometimes aggressively, by rhizomes and self-seeding to form large colonies; propagate by seeding (tap-rooted so plants won't transplant well); attracts bees and butterflies; deer resistant

·        Supplier: started from seed

·        Teaching Garden Location & Code: Naturalistic Garden H148

 

       Content produced through:

       Dane County UWEX Master Gardener Volunteer Program 

 

       Questions?  

       Dane County UWEX Horticulture Program