Echinacea FOUNTAIN™ 'Orange Bicolor'

Arie Blom is a Dutch breeder of perennials, mostly coneflowers and daylilies. He is one of those who have decided to enrich the world of coneflowers with new, richer, warmer, and so far non-existent colours. Coneflowers are still in high demand - one might even say they are in fashion, or possibly they have never gone out of it because of their beauty and durability. They are simply chic. Thanks to the many new cultivars glowing with bright colours and boasting compact growth, their use is no longer limited to cottage gardens, they can suit almost any type of landscape including the most modern displays.

Orange Bicolor is a bi-coloured coneflower variety from the FOUNTAIN™ series from 2018. It makes large, fragrant flowers with long ray florets with balayage effect. They are purple red nearer the centre and grade to orange towards the tips. Yound flowers have deep, warm tones whereas mature flowers are colder in the tone and pastel.

Central cones (discs) are marron brown and hide plenty of nectar for bees, butterflies, and bumble bees. If regularly deadheaded and fed this variety can flower from July until September. The plant makes a compact clump with about 40 cm tall stems. Lanceolate leaves grow from the ground and then up along the stems.

Coneflower will tolerate almost any soil type but boggy. It loves full sun. Deadheading will prolong flowering time. 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 abt. -34 °C (USDA zone 4).

Last update 31-05-2023