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Purple Coneflower-a Popular Herb for Landscaping

© Connie Krochmal

Good breeding pays off. New varieties of the purple coneflower, also called coneflower, have taken the market by storm. This plant has gone from being the most widely used herbal remedy in the U.S. to a much-have garden ornamental. Of all the recent introductions, the Meadowbrite coneflower series is the most popular. They're in such demand that the company introducing it to the market, Chicagoland Grows Plant Introduction Company, really can't keep up. This series includes several unusually colored flowers, and they are by no means purple or pink.

These were created by Dr. Jim Ault of the Chicago Botanic Garden as part of the Chicagoland Grows program, a partnership consisting of the Chicago Botanic Garden, the Morton Arboretum, and the Ornamental Association of Growers in Northern Illinois. Ault worked for seven years to create the series. One of the first released was the Orange Meadowbrite coneflower. It features tangerine-orange blossoms that are a wonderful departure from the usual colors. What is even more interesting is its delightfully sweet, orange-spiced tea fragrance. This plant is two feet in height.

Mango Meadowbrite coneflower occurred as a sport of Orange Meadowbrite. This vigorous plant features neon, mango-yellow flowers with bright gold centers. Its scent is similar but stronger than that of the Orange. This is said to be the strongest scented coneflower thus far. I like the fact that Mango's petals tend to turn downward. It can eventually reach 2½ feet in height.

In 2004, the Rocky Top coneflower hybrids were introduced by Jelitto Perennial Seeds. The original species is on the endangered list, and is found in Tennessee. The hybrids are very much like the original plant. Only two feet in height, Rocky Top has deep pink petals that curve upwards. Rocky Top can be grown from seed.

Also from Jelitto is Doubledecker coneflower. Imagine a purple coneflower with an additional layer of petals atop the central cone, and you get the idea. Its petals are deep rose-pink. This extraordinary flower was originally discovered by a German grower. It will bloom the first year from seed, but all the flowers may not display the 'doubledecker' effect until the second year.

In 2005, several other new coneflowers will make their way to the market. Like the Meadowbrite series, Sunrise and Sunset coneflowers, both of which are hybrids, represent a departure from the usual colors. Sunrise has boldly colored, yellow blooms. Its centers change from green to gold. Sunset features electric orange blossoms with brown centers.