I guess the colored coneflowers must be hybrids that have ordinary purple coneflowers as a parent and so the seeds don't come true. I have given up on the colored coneflowers here (at least for now). I've tried several and I've coddled them along and I get one year and no returns (except for a dark pink that's almost purple and hardly worth it...). I grow zinnias instead....much better color range, similar shape/size and more flowers. Annuals, but not hard to grow here from seed.

And hey, seed starting is like eating cashews..."just one more...just one more...."

The old purple coneflowers are so tough and reliable, but no so for the hybrids I have tried. I love the Zinnias also, I need to go seed shopping, for some reason I don't recall saving Zinnia seed at the end of the season last year.

The hybrids have so much promise, but none of the many ones I've tried have lasted