Green Guide: Echinacea purpurea

'Raspberry Truffle'

E. purpurea ‘Milkshake’ features double white flowers that appear in June and remain untouched by age through September.

Released by Plants Nouveau in 2009 and bred by Arie Blom of AB-Cultivars, ‘Milkshake’ has some sort of anti-aging secret.

“The blooms do not age. I’ve never seen anything like it,” said Angela Treadwell-Palmer, president of Plants Nouveau. “The white pompom blooms open fully and sit there, perfectly white with no signs of browning or petal discoloration.”

Because of its flower endurance, ‘Milkshake’ would be an excellent choice in a cut-flower garden.

“Flowers would last in a vase for 8 weeks,” she said.

‘Milkshake’ is a good choice for the mid-border. It grows from 30-36 inches tall and 24-36 inches wide.

“It’s not tall, it’s not dwarf, it’s just the right size for all you coneflower traditionalists out there,” she said.

This selection is sturdy with mature plants holding up to 50 blooms with no signs of flopping.

‘Raspberry Truffle’
Because of its stature, ‘Raspberry Truffle’ from Plants Nouveau is a great companion for summer phlox, lilies, sedum, coreopsis and many other colorful perennials. This short and stout selection grows from 18-22 inches tall and 24-30 inches wide.

The soft, yet saturated salmon-pink flowers are long lasting and fade to a coral pink as they age. The ray flowers are a deep salmon color — like a wild-caught sockeye salmon Treadwell-Palmer said. The cone begins chocolate brown and unfurls to reveal a double button top in the matching salmon color as it matures.

“When the cone flowers are developing, the chocolate center looks like a truffle placed in the middle of the bloom,” she said.

Stems are strong and thick and a dark chocolate color, and the flowers don’t flop. Thanks to its strong E. purpurea heritage, it offers lush, thick foliage and a bushy habit. 

 
For more: Plants Nouveau, www.plantsnouveau.com.