Echinacea 'Hot Papaya'

Family - Asteraceae
Category - Perennial
Origin - Bred in The Netherlands
Discovered By - Arie Blom, A-B Cultivars
Year of Introduction - 2009
Season of Interest - Summer, Autumn
Hardiness - H5
Height - up to 90cm
Width - up to 50cm
Location - The Hot Garden

Description: A herbaceous Perennial with a clump-forming and upright habit. Mid to dark green leaves are lanceolate to linear in shape. Daisy-like flowerheads have rich orange petals that deepen to red with age. Individual flowers are comprised of an outer ring of reflexed, petal-like, ray florets surrounding a dense cluster of shorter ray florets with pronounced notching at the tips. A relatively discreet brown cone at the centre of the Bloom can eventually be seen as the flower ages. The flowerheads are held singly atop upright stems and are produced from midsummer into early autumn. The Blooms are lightly scented and very attractive to pollinating insects. Good for use as cut flowers.

The genus name Echinacea is based on the Greek word 'Echinos' for hedgehog, a reference to the prickly centre of the flower.

Gallery Images:

Flower:

Flowers are a shade of deep orange and age to a rich shade of red-orange. The flowerheads are comprised of an outer layer of reflexed ray florets surrounding a very dense cluster of shorter, highly notched ray florets and a central brown cone. Flowers are produced from July into September.

Flower colour: Orange

Flower shape: Daisy-like flowerheads held singly

Flowering time: July, August, September

Foliage:

Bristly, dark green leaves are lanceolate to linear in shape. The leaves are mostly held at the base of the plant with fewer leaves Alternately arranged on the stems.

Foliage Senescence: Deciduous

Foliage Shape: Lanceolate to linear

Propagation:

Plant Breeders' Rights (PBR). Unlicensed propagation is prohibited.

Cultivation:

Best in fertile, well-drained soil in full sun.