Ruby Star Coneflower

Often considered one of the best Echinacea purpurea available, the Ruby Star coneflower showcases big, magenta-red, daisy-like blooms. It is extremely hardy and grows well in the intense sun and heat that makes many other perennial selections wilt and suffer. Peak bloom for this plant is early July, so it is a great candidate for gardeners looking to ensure their landscape will have plenty of midsummer flowers. Butterflies and bees flock to the blooms of this coneflower; the species is native to the United States. The Ruby Star has a tall, upright form and works well in the middle or back of a garden. It is deer resistant and a valuable addition to a cut-flower garden or prairie planting. It even provides winter interest and a food source for birds if the seed heads are left on the plant. Ruby Star Coneflower Care Like other coneflowers, the Ruby Star will perform best in a site with full sunlight and well-drained soils. It can grow well in a range of soil types as long as drainage is good. It is drought tolerant once established, so only benefits from supplemental watering during extended dry spells. Coneflowers like this one do not like much fertilizer. A single application of a slow-release fertilizer in early spring is sufficient. Gardeners may snip off spent flowers to keep the plant looking tidy throughout the blooming season or leave seed heads on as a food source for birds. Cut back the plant entirely after a killing freeze in fall or wait until spring for the sake of the bird population and some winter interest. Ruby Star Coneflower Spacing The Ruby Star coneflower has a height of about three feet and a spread of up to two feet. Space plants in a mass grouping twelve inches apart. To keep individual plants recognizable, give each at least two feet of space.