Echinacea SunSeekers Watermelon (SunSeekers Series)

RHS Plant Profile

coneflower [SunSeekers Watermelon]

Herbaceous Perennial

A compact, hardy, deciduous, clump-forming perennial with strap-like green leaves and upright, hairy stems. Semi-double, fragrant, daisy-like flowers are watermelon-pink, with a large orange-brown central cone, appearing from mid summer, sometimes lasting through until the autumn

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Chalk, Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.1-0.5 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 2–5 years
Max Spread: 0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height: 0.1-0.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Loam Sand

Moisture: Well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun

Aspect: East–facing or South–facing or West–facing
Exposure: Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H5

Colour & Scent

Fragrance Flower

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Asteraceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Clump forming
Genus: Echinacea are erect, clump-forming rhizomatous perennials with simple or pinnately lobed leaves and solitary, long-stalked daisies with prominent conical central disks and often drooping ray florets; attractive to butterflies
Name Status: Trade

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in fertile, humus rich, well drained soil in full sun. Take care when propagating by divison or root cuttings as they resent a lot of disturbance

Propagation

Propagate by seed or by division in spring or autumn (although they resent a lot of disturbance) or by root cuttings from late autumn to early winter

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Patio and container plants
Prairie planting
Wildflower meadow
Wildlife gardens
City and courtyard gardens
Cottage and informal garden
Cut flowers
Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Deadhead regularly to encourage flower production

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free