Echinacea v Rudbeckia ?

Is there any difference , and where does the Coneflower come into all this confusion ?
I grew some Echinacea this year, no flowers hopefully I will get some in 2013.
I am growing Rudbeckia Goldsturm next year , will this flower in the 1st year?

TIA

 

Hi H

The "cone part" is the shape of the flower so I think can be quite a few that fall under that heading , I have Goldstrum it took at least two/three years for it to settle in but now it has its formed a very nice clump , are you buying in pots or bare-rooted , the Echi should flower next year which ones do you have .


Ps the Crackling fire begonias still in the baskets in the greenhouse and still flowering

Spruce

 

Coneflower is the common name for echinacea. I've never had any luck with echinacea, it always does alright for the first year, and then fails to come back in the spring. That's probably my fault though, I never really tried too hard to look after them.

I've never grown rudbeckia, but they're on the list for next year because they are lovely.

My 'flower of the year' for this year, which is kind of very loosely similar, is coreopsis. I grew them from seed and they've done really well and look really nice. They flowered in year one, and are still blooming now.

 

Rudbekias flower later, are more robust and much hardier than echinaceas. The new echinaceas are fussy, temperamental and need understanding. They need to build a big root system before flowering. But, do this and echinaceas ....the new varieties, are superb. I split my rudbekias Goldsturn every year because they tend to die out in the centre. They still flower very well from splitting in their first year and make good clumps. Rudbekias need more moisture and tolerate more shade than echinaceas, which like full sun. I grow several of the new echinaceas and now know how to grow them after a couple of years of utter frustration and experimentation. Finally, rudbekias will survive the harshest of winters but echinaceas tend to struggle

 

Spruce ~ I grew Echinacea Dreamcoat from seed last year , I have about 5 in pots at the moment. I'll make sure they are protected when the weather starts to cool down . I will be growing the Rudbeckia from seed as well. I'll chill the seeds for about 8 weeks in the fridge and plant in early feb. I cant believe the price of a potted ones Where can you buy bare rooted ones from ?
http://www.crocus.co.uk/plants/_/perennials/classid.3538/
Glad you Crackling begonias are doing well , the few survivors of mine struggled all summer . All my other begonias were fine B. Illumination and B. Tenella.

Verdun , Clueless ~ thanks for the reply Maybe Echinaceas are a bit too much trouble , I'll see how they go.

 

Hi H

If you want a lot I find these the best prices plus they have the latest plants in £new varieties"
http://www.dutchbulbs.co.uk/

gardens 4u look a good price as wellhttp://www.gardens4you.co.uk/index.php

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/10-RUDBEC...arden_PlantsSeedsBulbs_JN&hash=item19d5489b64

 

No harryS, the new hybrid echinaceas really are spectacular plants. Just need understanding!

 

Hi verdun, could you elaborate? I have planted an echinacea this autumn...

 

Love weeds, which one? Generally I would have preferred to pot it up and overwinter then plant out in spring in good soil, well fertilised and well watered in. To stop it flowering til at least mid summer and then let it flower having established strong root system.

 

Is this the sort of thing you mean?
http://www.finegardening.com/plants/articles/echinacea-big-sky-series.aspx

 

Hello madahhlia, yes. I grow tiki torch, a wonderful orange flower. It was impossible in the first year, wilting when about to flower. Last year it was superb when I grew it as already described. Also a double orange called Marmalade, a double red called Hot Papya and others. They are worth the extra thinking about, viz., allowing the root system to develop well before they flower. I think the newer varieties have been rolled out too quickly and the advice on how to grow them was lacking. Going to grow one or two?

 

I certainly went through an echinacea phase a few years back but got fed up when they just died out instead of forming a clump. They were easy enough to raise, though. I thought it was because my garden is not open and sunny enough.

In idle moments I dream of digging out the privet hedge around the front garden (South /east aspects) putting in a picket fence and planting a daisy garden. Big Skies would be hot contenders for a planting spot.

 

Be sensible though to plant around with other reliably flowering plants too....I grow blue salvias next to tiki torch in one area as well as hardy geraniums. Or other daisies like argyranthemum, aster frikartii monch, etc. sounds better than privet hedge....? Echinacea sundown and sunrise are two very reliable and hardy varieties for me too.

 

The privet hedge provides privacy so i don't mind it too much. Imagine the work of getting it out! I suppose some spiky forms would be a good contrast to the blobby daisy shapes.
Are there any spring flowering daisies?

 

Can't think of spring flowering daisies at mo ...I grow Semettii in early spring but these are not frost resistant. Can get away with it here usually. Anemone blanda.....daisy-like flowers? Little corms that come every year and flower for quite a long time. Sure this forum will respond with masses of suggestions for spring daisies. I also like to vary shapes, spikey and rounded forms....I use grasses for this too. Grass-like Libertia varieties are evergreen and their foliage is esp eye-catching in winter and have white flowers in spring