Echinacea Purpurea Raspberry Truffle

Scrum-deli-icious!

The latest addition to our ever-growing, popular line of Cone-fections series
from the breeding brilliance of Arie Blom of AB-Cultivars in The Netherlands.

Grower Introduction – 2011 | Retail Introduction 2012

Size: 18-22” tall by 24-30” wide
USDA Hardiness Zones: 5(4)-9
Soil: moist, but well drained
Sun: full sun
Diseases/pests: none known
Landscape Use: Borders, foundation plantings, small urban gardens, wildlife gardens, cutting gardens, containers
Market Appeal/Uniqueness: A short, sturdy new selection with salmon-pink blooms on chocolate stems. Thick, purpurea -like foliage and strong, upright stems make this a perfect middle of the border plant for any sunny garden.
Propagation methods: tissue culture, divisions
Date of introduction to market: June 1, 2011
Bloom time: Early to mid June for 8 to 12 weeks

Angela’s Garden Notes

Echinacea Purpurea Raspberry Truffle is scrum-deli-icious in any sunny garden. This new selection is short and stout, making it the perfect companion for summer phlox, lilies, sedum, coreopsis and many more colorful perennials. The soft, yet saturated salmoney-pink bloom color is long lasting and fades to a coral pink as it ages.

The ray flowers are deep salmon in color, like a wild caught sockeye salmon and the cone or center of the bloom begins chocolate brown and unfurls to reveal a very double, button top in the same salmon color as the ray petals as it matures. the name sure fits because when the cone flowers are developing, the chocolate center looks like a truffle placed in the middle of the bloom.

The stems are strong, thick and the color of dark chocolate. They hold the blooms up well and don’t seem to ever flop. This new coneflower has lots pf strong E. purpurea blood in it’s heritage, so the foliage is lush, thick and deep, dark green and the plant is exceptionally bushy.