Thanks Melanie. I have known what it was but had forgotten & did not have time this evening to go hunting it down. I knew you would know.
Yes, it's coneflower. This variety is Magnus. I'm sort of new to growing them too. Here is what I discovered & we're close enough in location (or I know your conditions) that you will likely have the same experience. Last year, in May, I got a coneflower in a pot from Lowe's, planted it out (full sun) & it did great for a while BUT summer was early last year & pretty dry. I lost the coneflower. It just did not have time enough to dig in well before summer hit hard. This past fall, I again got coneflowers in pots from Lowe's ~~~ 2 of them. I planted them in the same location as previously (full sun) & they had time to establish before winter hit. They went almost completely dormant during winter & then as soon as spring came, they went nuts! They are now nice & healthy & I feel they are ready to take on our inferno summers & any drought that comes along. In my research, I read a lot of people reporting they don't like to be moved & they don't like to be transplanted as seedlings. So I thought the best method is to get them in the fall, in pots, plant them out, & then they have time to dig their heels in & then rest during winter (perhaps building that root system) w/o having to expend energy for leaves & blooms.
Ideally, I would like to get the corms & plant them but I am having trouble finding any that way that are available in the fall (our fall).
