The nursery probably knew it wouldnt sell a plant sans blooms so they just lightened their inventory probably for cost. You might have great luck with it. Those are really bargains.

yes.

Great info. Jo Ann & thanks! I did not know about them putting plugs in larger pots so I will be on the lookout for that. It happens though that the 3 times I've lost coneflowers (or anything else planted when summer is bearing down in us) were well rooted. We get so hot so early here. May was in the 90's plenty of days & here, when we say 90's, that's not just getting *up* to 90 but rather hitting 90's @ 11am or before (in spring!) & staying that way allllllllllll day long until the sun goes down. This will be true pretty much through September only we get mid to high 90's. Full sun here is a brutal 12 hours & very strong. Further complicating matters is we have sand for the most part & sand holds nothing for long. Water? It sure doesn't last long - drains right out. So plants here, even if well rooted in the pot, need time in a gentler season to get acclimated & dig in really well.

I may just have to start getting things in spring & then potting them up & babying them through summer & finally plant in the ground in fall. Sort of the long way around the barn, but whatcha gonna do?

I'll take the long way if it means I have the plant I want at the end of the trail. LOL

That's what it's going to have to be.

I understand your desire to plant in fall, it is so much easier because you do not have to water every day. I live in zone 8 and still had no luck with plugs in the fall. Only one made it out of about 12. You must have a raised bed, they need good drainage and lots of sun.
If you do order in the fall, order big plants like you get from Plant Delights or Romance Gardens. They both have a good selection.
I am having great success with the PowWow's,(the white & wild berry) Eastern Purple (of course), Pica Bella, Amazing Dream (only liner that lived), tennesseensis(grew from seed), Magnus, Cleopatra(fades real bad but vigorous), Hot Papaya(tall and leggy), Pink Double Delight. Love these, except the fading on Cleopatra.
New for me this year....Sombrero Sandy Yellow, Cheyenne Spirit. (so far so good)
I had no luck with the Big Sky Series, Sunrise was a beautiful yellow coneflower when it opened and the very next day it was white, then it dies. LOL.


( READ THIS:)
The thread "Hybrid Echinacea, NOT for me!" in All Things Gardening forum

Thank you Susan. Very interesting. Funny, I had begun reading that thread at some point but must have gotten interrupted & never finished it. Since there were no new postings, it didn't matter that I had marked it to watch. NOW, I remember where I read that people were none too thrilled with the fancy hybrids.

Well, I have sand so good drainage is not an issue & the bed is on a slope making it doubly draining. Sun? Plenty!

Okay! I will try, try & try again.

In my humble opinion, the hybridizer makes a big difference. The Big Sky series never worked for me. They lived a couple of years, were disease-ridden, and flower color faded. I highly suggest looking at the origins of the hybrid coneflowers and finding out which ones work best for you. I also do this with heuchera. It has greatly upped my success rates.

Thank you for the tip.

You can't go wrong with these Sombrero 'Salsa Red' and 'Hot Coral' plants! Coreopsis 'Red Satin' is awesome and doesn't flop like 'Mercury Rising.'

Thank you Clint. I adore reds!

Karen

Beautiful! I'm guessing the rabbits don't munch on it.

I wonder what it is. LOL.

Not yet Pirl. This year coleus and phlox seem to be the delicacies of choice. Well, they eat the phlox every year. I've had it for 3 or 4 years, only seen it bloom once.

Karen

Thought: could you put the coleuses in hanging baskets? Then the rabbits would have to be gymnasts to get them!

Really pretty Karen.

Thanks. I love that clump. Hope they last.

Karen

Clint, I might have to try that Salsa Red! Beautiful color combo with the red and coral too.
I love the red and pink coreopsis varieties, but they aren't hardy here

I think Sombrero 'Salsa Red' is the most beautiful Echinacea ever. The color is amazing. I have had some of them for 3 years now. I think I'm going to go buy more of them today. I think it stands out more than anything I grow.