Echinacea ‘Solar Flare’

I saw this at ItSaul Plants in Atlanta the year before it’s big debut and I was quite impressed. Big vigorous plants with lush green foliage held aloft magnificent, large, deep magenta red blossoms with horizontally held petals making them seem even larger. Flowers age to smoky rose. Add to that near black stems and a powerful sweet fragrance and you’ve got a winner. Echinacea in coastal BC should be planted in hot, dry, sunny spots with thin, average to poor soils for best overwintering.