Echinacea purpurea ‘Rubinstern’

‘Rubinstern’ (meaning ruby star) is a purple coneflower seed cultivar that typically grows 2-3′ tall. It features daisy-like coneflowers (to 4″ diameter) with carmine red to purple rays and large, pin cushion-like, dark bronze-brown central cones. Flowers bloom from June to August with some sporadic later bloom. Lanceolate, dark green leaves (4-8? long). The dead flower stems will remain erect well into winter and, if flower heads are not removed, are often visited by goldfinches looking for seed. Echinacea comes from the Greek word echinos meaning hedgehog in reference to the flower’s spiny center cone.