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Home > Plant profiles > Echinacea ‘Ruby Star’
Echinacea ‘Ruby Star’
 Botanical name:Echinacea purpurea ‘Ruby Star’.
Common Names: Sacred Plant, Black Sampson, Sampson Root, Narrow-leaved Purple Coneflower, Purple Coneflower and Red Sunflower.
History: The Echinacea plant was used in traditional medicine by the American Indians and was quickly adopted by the settlers. During the 1800s, Echinacea was claimed to be a “blood purifier“ and was used for treating dizziness and rattlesnake bites. Echinacea was used as an anti-infective during the early part of the 20th century.
Origin: Native to North America.
Name: It gets its common name coneflower from the arrangement of the florets of its daisy-like flowers around a prominent centre or cone. The name echinos comes from the Greek meaning ‘Hedgehog’ in reference to the sharp pointed bracts of the flowers.
Comments: ‘Ruby Star’ is a coarse plant with erect stems and daisy like flowers that have cone shaped centres. The flower petals are held out in a more showy horizontal position than any other Echinacea. A fabulous front of the border plant that acts as a showpiece or just as stunning as a pot plant. The beautiful daisy-like flowers attract butterflies that congregate on the blossoms and later the attractive seed heads provide nourishment for a variety of birds. With its red tinted flower stems only adding to the beauty of this plant it is a mainstay for any perennial border. To propagate this plant take basal cuttings from the young shoots or divide the spreading clump in spring.
Tips: This Echinacea was chosen for its dwarf characteristics. It therefore suits smaller gardens as well as gardens in which there is little room left! A great cut flower, either in full bloom when it is a ruby red to pink, or in the early stages of seed development. The dried seedpods making exquisite decorations throughout the year. Cutting back spent flowers encourages further flower production. This plant loves the sun and is perfect for a sunny border, prairie garden or wild flower meadow. Soft-textured plants should be planted nearby to offset the Echinacea’s rigid texture and the bold statement that it makes.
Contacts:
www.botany.com
www.plantideas.com
www.gardenweb.com
Family: Asteraceae.
Plant type: Herbaceous perennial.
Size (HxW): 60cm x 50cm.
Depth and spacing: Plant with the crown just below soil surface & 50cm apart.
Watering: Keep well watered whilst actively growing.
Frost tolerances: Fully hardy.
Flowering time: From summer until the first frosts.
Soil: Well drained with a pH 5.5–6.0.
Aspect: Full sun to light shade.
Climate: Cool to temperate.
Pruning: Cut the plant back hard each winter.
Fertilizer: Feed annually in early spring with a general purpose fertilizer.
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