Echinacea purpurea 'WHITE DOUBLE DELIGHT'

It often happens that some of the best new plants just happen. As simple as that. In dendrology it is called natural mutation and this time Dutch coneflower breeder Arie Blom has the only credit for finding it in 2007. Though it is fair to say that this mutation occurred on one of his previous achievements called Pink Double Delight. It was named White Double Delight and patented as PP23472 in 2013.

White Double Delight is not just another white coneflower variety. It makes stunning flowers combining snow white ray florets, cream white to pale yellow dwarf petals grading to rich green towards the centre of the elevated cones. The flowers come out in profusion from mid July until September and show incredible longevity. They were among the last blooming coneflowers in mid autumn.

Coneflowers are maintenance-free perennials blooming from early or mid summer until early fall. They come out on sturdy stems that do not break in wind or heavy rain. Flowers attract butterflies and bumble bees. Lanceolate leaves are medium green and grow from the ground and then up along the stems.

Coneflower will tolerate almost any soil type but boggy and highly acidic. It loves full sun. It is suitable for mixed borders with perennials, or can be used as a flowering feature among low shrubs and conifers, and looks lovely when planted in a mass in a container on patios and balconies. Fully hardy to min. -30°C (USDA zone 5), possibly a few degrees lower.

Last update 05-01-2017