Echinacea pallida 'Hula Dancer'

Ohhhh we love a good Prairie Plant here at Smarty Plants HQ, it's possibly my favourite style of planting. Echinacea pallida is a staple prairie-style perennial, adding stunning impact with their naturalistic swept back cone flowers and elegant airy stems. 

- From July until September/October, tall slender stems bare dainty, tutu-like windswept flowers with light pink to white petals that surround a large orange-brown central cone. Regular deadheading will prolong its flowering time. Flowers develop into attractive seedheads that will hold some winter interest.

- Narrow, strap-like, slightly hairy mid-green leaves form a clump below the flowers.

- Free draining soil is essential for these plants to come back every year. They do not like areas that remain wet during the winter months. Adding a layer of sand or grit to the base of the planting hole may help with improving drainage and increase its chances of surviving the winter. Can take a bit of time to establish.

- They perform best in a hot, full sun area such as courtyard, Mediterranean and gravel gardens, while also thriving in coastal gardens where the soil tends to be sandy. They work very well in prairie gardens and other full sun mixed borders and raised beds, but may need additional mix to the soil where they are planted. They look fantastic when planting in drifts to create continuity and a naturalistic look. 

- The large central cone of each flower provides an ideal landing platform for all kinds of pollinators, appealing more to butterflies and bees.  

- Height and Spread approx. 60-90cm x 40-60cm. 

- Supplied in a 9cm pot