I got Solar Flare this spring and it was about 3" tall. It's still about 3" tall. It's just sitting there doing nothing. I wondered if it was a new hybrid that isn't stabilized or something. All my other echies are doing fine...I'd collect seeds but I don't think at 3" I'll even get a bloom and I'd cut it off before it opened anyway. Can you purchase seeds for Solar Flare?

According to the data base it will not come true from seed, it is a new hybrid.It will probably last about as long as a solar flare!

Good one!

I have Solar Flare for 3 years now. It has done fine but not close to 3 feet tall, closer to 2 for me. It is the only Big Sky series that has performed well. First flower this season should open soon.

abhege said:I got Solar Flare this spring and it was about 3" tall. It's still about 3" tall. It's just sitting there doing nothing. I wondered if it was a new hybrid that isn't stabilized or something. All my other echies are doing fine...I'd collect seeds but I don't think at 3" I'll even get a bloom and I'd cut it off before it opened anyway. Can you purchase seeds for Solar Flare?

Try a little plant tone. LOL. Sounds like a rose bush I got from Michigan Bulb company.

I have a pleasant tone when I talk to it daily, "C'mon, you ca n do it. Let's see some growth here. I'll take care of you. Show me what you can do."

You sure talk nice to your plants they should really do their best.

I have spent plenty on Echinacea plants seems like most of the newer ones don't like to grow more than one season except for Pow Wow Berry. There are some others growing but I haven't had time to check the tags and they are not blooming yet. Last year I had lelani (sp?) it was lovely not there this year.

I have both colors of the Pow Wow series and Cheyenne Spirit. I was lucky enough to get about 400 plants. There is no problem about them, seeds drop and I have a yard full of them I have hundreds of seeds if someone wants them.

ltre.
Hello and Welcome

Hi ltre,

Welcome to ATP!

I wintersowed both Pow Wow Wildberry and Cheyenne Spirit seeds this year. I got the seeds from a swap, so they are F1 hybrids they may not be true. I also direct sowed regular echinacea purpurea (the indestructible purple/pink classic). I love the pictures of Cheyenne spirit. I hope mine germinate and grow as lovely as the pictures and survive the winter.

I have been afraid to try the fancy new varieties after reading the bad reviews. Maybe we are unrealistic to expect the new echinacea and rudbeckia to be as "robust" and "vigorous" as the old standards that grow like weeds. However, plant companies should be more honest about their offerings.

I am tempted to try 'Fragrant Angel' from mamajacks current coop. I have read many good things about that one.

This thread makes me feel good as I have NOT had much success with these.

I think I'll stick with the standard pinky-purple coneflower - reliable, pretty, easy care.

There was extensive talk about Echies on Perennial forum I think,last summer. The bottom line was the most regular trustworthy were the PowPow series as well as Cheyenne Spirit. I have grown GeenEnvy but wasnt tipped over by the color. There were a couple of others that fizzled the first year Joy something ? didnt make it.
I am sticking to the tried and trues.

I have a Raspberry Truffle that has survived for about 3 years now, including being moved once. And I just got a few Southern Belle to try. They were quite reasonably priced, and they're so pretty that I'm willing to give them a try. Heh, they won't be the first plants that gave up on me.

Fatal Attraction has survived for 3 years in my garden, it's a very attractive plant. Cheyenne Spirit was the loser, died the first winter here.

Woffie, Southern Belle is very pretty, I hope you have success growing it.

Marilyn,maybe the zone was off. I have seen CS listed for zones starting with 3 to 8. I try to buy plants with at least a zone ahead of mine.

NJBob said: I also used to have a lot of problems with them. From what I see some series are much better then others. Frank most of the ones you mentioned are from the Big Sky series which were one of the first with a big color selections. Other then Solar Flare I have never had any luck with these. Terra Nova introductions seem to be improving over the last few years .AB cultivars have done very well for me. For the singles go with Pow Wow and Cheyenne Spirit both can be grown from seed and do very well and come in almost all colors.

For your soil all I can say is drainage , I add lots of sand to the mix.
Only feed with a handful of Bonemeal they do not like much food.
Do not let first year tissue culture plants to flower the first season, I know this one is hard so I let them flower once just to see what the flower looks like.
Plant in a raised area where water can not puddle or freeze over them, Causes them to rot.
When cutting down in the Fall leave around 8 inches to protect the crown.
Do not mulch close to the crown to avoid rot.
And I do not plant after July , they need a longer time then most for root development.

http://www.portlandmonthlymag....

@NJBoB

What does AB stand for? ("AB cultivars have done very well for me.")

Arie Blom

http://www.ab-cultivars.com/en...

Karen