Echinacea FLAME THROWER coneflower
Symbivit Tric (arbuscular)
Symbivit (arbuscular)Echinacea
Echinacea, known by its common name coneflower, is a perennial plant of the North American prairies, where it has thrived for thousands of years. Fossil pollen from related members of the daisy family has been found in sediments millions of years old, meaning its foremothers grew on this continent long before the arrival of humans. The Indigenous peoples of America (including the Sioux, Comanche, and others) knew its medicinal properties and used it to relieve pain, treat inflammation, snakebites, and even rabies. The genus name comes from the Greek echinos – hedgehog – referring to the spiny, cone-shaped centre of the flower head. Today, about nine species are recognized, the most common in cultivation being E. purpurea, along with E. paradoxa, E. pallida, and E. angustifolia. It was botanically described by the German botanist Konrad Mönch (aka Conrad Moench, 1744–1805) based on herbarium material brought to Europe by missionaries and naturalists from American expeditions. Echinacea reached Europe at the turn of the 18th and 19th centuries, but its true explosion of colour came in 1995, when E. purpurea was crossed with E. paradoxa at the Chicago Botanic Garden. The result was the very first orange cultivar named Art’s Pride, which sparked an era of vividly coloured varieties in shades ranging from delicate pastels to rich, warm tones.
There are plenty of coneflowers in the market today. No wonder that if a variety wants to break through it must offer something unique, extraordinary, and attractive that has not been seen before. Do you realize how we all get attracted to fire? I remember how we – small-town kids loved late summer and autumn fires at the corner of a field or behind our cottage. As if magnetized we watched its flames and could not resist poking into the glowing embers, and we never wanted to go to bed when our mums called at us.
Flame Thrower coneflower is just like that – its flowers are like glowing embers you can’t stop looking at. The ray flowers are slim and long confirming e.paradoxa genes in its blood, deep orange towards the tips and fiery ruby red near the convex, maroon cones serving plenty of nectar to bees, bumblebees, and butterflies. It has a medium strong, floral, and sweet fragrance. Blooming begins in early July and lasts until the last sunny and warm days of early autumn (October) if plants are regularly dead-headed and fed. Stems are strong, 90-100 cm tall, and withstand wind and rain. Leaves are mid green, lanceolate and may suffer from diseases if grown in wet or compacted soil. Flame Thrower was bred by my favourite breeder of flowers with rich colours Harini Korlipara from TerraNova® Nurseries in Oregon, USA. Patent No. 21932 was granted in 2011.
The plant is usually trouble-free and resistant, just be careful is slugs are present in your garden. Since coneflowers emerge quite late, often when slugs are already in their lethal strength, they could gobble up newly emerging foliage totally and thus destroy the plant before it even comes out.
Last update 06-09-2020
Coneflowers are beautiful, low-maintenance perennials that bloom from the first half of summer until autumn. The central discs hide nectar eagerly sought by butterflies and bumblebees. Regular deadheading, along with occasional feeding with liquid fertilizers, will extend the flowering season. Their stems are very sturdy, withstanding heavy rain and wind. They will grow in almost any well-drained, non-waterlogged soil in full sun, but dislike overly acidic conditions. Although native to the prairies, experience shows that hybrid types in particular dislike prolonged drought and appreciate extra watering during the driest parts of the year. In spring, watch out for slug invasions, which can consume much of the fresh growth – offering them beer traps is a great and effective way to lure them to a boozy demise while protecting your plants. Hardy to at least -29 °C (USDA zone 5), possibly lower, and requiring no winter protection
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