|
Growing Tips |
Mexican Hat is easy to grow in average, dry to
medium, well-drained soils in full sun. Tolerates drought, light shade and
somewhat poor soils. Intolerant of moist heavy clays. Long-headed coneflower
or prairie coneflower is an erect, hairy, clump-forming plant that typically
grows to 1-3’ tall. This is an aster
family member that is perhaps most noted for the long, cylindrical, center
disk of each flower and its deeply cut leaves. Flowers bloom in summer.
Each flower features a long narrow center disk (cone to 2” long) with 3-7
drooping yellow rays at the base. Leaves (to 5” long) are pinnately lobed.
Ray flowers of R. columnifera forma columnifera are yellow, but the rays of
the less common R. columnifera forma pulcherrima are brownish purple.
Cylindrical center disks are dark brown and somewhat resemble in shape the
crown of a slender sombrero, hence the additional common name of Mexican
hat. Columnifera refers to these columnar center disks. |
|
|
