Echinacea ‚Ifecsssal‘ SUNSEEKERS SALMON

SunSeekers is a coneflower series of several flower colours all of which are stunning, rich, and non-fading. Plants have exceptional vigour and dense habit. There are quite a few varieties bred so far, yet I have to admit I was fascinated by a variety introduced as a hot novelty at Plantarium 2018 trade fair in Dutch Boskoop, where it was awarded Gold Medal the same year. No wonder – it is simply breathtaking. Bred by Innoflora BV and marketed by Gootjes AllPlant BV from the Netherlands.

Sunseekers Salmon is truly a unique coneflower. Among the load of colours available today this one stands out like a proud princess who knows that she is being watched. Semi-double, large flowers have frayed ends and appear from July until October atop short and strong stems. Young, emerging flowers are a delicious shade of salmon pink with a few soft yellow petals in the centre, and mature to pale pink around a large, dark crimson red cone hiding plenty of nectar for butterflies, bumble bees as well as bees.

Deadhead spent flowers regularly and feed the plants every two weeks during summer. Leaves are healthy, deep green, and narrowly lanceolate. Sunseekers Salmon forms bushy, dense, and compact clumps with only about 30-40 cm tall, sturdy stems.

The plant is usually trouble-free and resistant, just be careful if 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.

Coneflower will tolerate almost any soil type but boggy. It loves full sun. It is suitable for mixed borders with perennials, or can be used as a flowering feature among low shrubs and conifers, and looks lovely when planted in a mass in a container on patios and balconies. Fully hardy to min -34°C (USDA zone 4).

Last update 04-10-2018