Echinacea 'Ifecssmin' SUNSEEKERS MINEOLA

SunSeekers is a coneflower series bred by Innoflora BV and marketed by Gootjes AllPlant BV from the Netherlands. The first part consists of varieties whose patent names begin with Apecss- and comprises of plants with single flowers of remarkably rich colours. While the second part of the series with patent names beginning with Ifecss- breaks through with a completely new and innovative design of mostly semi-double flowers which recall gerbera and dahlia rather than a coneflower or those with uniquely coloured ray florets. The first and hugely successful variety was SUNSEEKERS SALMON that was awarded Gold Medal by KVBC at Plantarium Exhibition 2018. Since then SunSeekers series is taking the coneflower world by the storm.

Flowering plants with fruit-like names sound very tasty and make you want them just because they recall the fruit taste you like. It is a good trick that the SUNSEEKERS coneflower series could not miss. Its 2023 introduction is called SUNSEEKERS MINEOLA and presents a variety whose flowers resemble the colour of mineola skin which, for those who have not seen it yet, is a citrus fruit, a cross between Duncan grapefruit and Dancy tangerine. After its introduction at Plantarium novelty fair it received so many enquiries that a year after, when the first plants were ready for sale, there simply were not enough, making SUNSEEKERS MINEOLA the most sought-after coneflower sensation of 2024.

No wonder. Its large flowers are semi-double and firm and look more like gerbera than a coneflower. They are glowing orange and golden as they open, and mature to a deeper orange shade of blood orange zest. Central discs are mahogany red, slightly convex, and hide plenty of nectar for butterflies, bumble bees as well as bees. Flowering begins in July and lasts until the last sunny and warm days of September. Longevity of individual flowers is 2-3 weeks. Plants are compact and well-branched. Stems are usually 40-50 cm tall. Deadhead spent flowers regularly and feed the plants every two weeks during summer. Leaves are healthy, deep green, and broadly lanceolate. PFAF.

The plant is usually trouble-free and resistant, just be careful if slugs are present in your garden. Since coneflowers emerge quite late, often when slugs are already in their lethal strength, they could gobble up newly emerging foliage totally and thus destroy the plant before it even comes out.

Coneflower will tolerate almost any soil type but boggy. It is a prairie plant which suggests that it loves plenty of sun and heat and dislikes excess watering. Still, keep it slightly moist in the first year after transplanting, even before and perhaps during winter (if too dry) to help it establish well. From the second year it rarely requires other irrigation than rain. It is suitable for mixed perennial borders 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 about -34 °C (USDA zone 4).

Last update 07-07-2024