POSTED BY KIM — Coneflower hybridization has been especially active during the last several years — doubles, oranges, fragrants, reds, yellows, etc. ‘Tiki Torch,’ ‘Tomato Soup,’ ‘Mac ‘n Cheese,’ ‘Hot Papaya’ — the list goes on and on. So if you’re a coneflower lover, it’s been fun!
Now I’m going to tell you about a new coneflower that I think is more exciting then all of them — ‘Little Annie.’ “Dwarf” doesn’t really describe this diminutive flower — it’s really a miniature. It reaches only 6 inches tall (yes, 6 inches!) and is *loaded* with buds and blooms. The flower petals are tiny tiny, and the little leaves are perfectly to scale — it’s adorable! It’s also probably sterile, which works in the plant’s favor because it sends all its energy into flower production.
This little beauty was hybridized by Eric Stahlheber at Southernwood Gardens in Jonesboro, Ill. Eric is a lucky, lucky man, because I think this tiny coneflower is going to change the way a lot of us garden. The coneflower — which has typically been in the 18″ – 3′ range — is finally going to move to the front of the perennial border. And ‘Little Annie’ (named after his wife) is such a profuse bloomer, you can almost use it in containers for summer-long interest and to attract butterflies.
I’m going to make a bold prediction and say this is going to be the hottest coneflower in the next two years. ALSO, it actually isn’t being released until 2011, but Eric has agreed to grow some for Sugar Creek for spring 2010, so yay for us! We’ll have a limited supply, and I know they’ll go fast.
If you’re going to get excited about any new plant next year, make it this one…
I have one of these plants that I purchased in the spring. It did very well. Now, the booms appear to have died and maybe drying up- turing black. Is this the seeds? If so, can I start my own plants from these.
Thanks
Sandy
Hi! Sounds like this plant is ready to be deadheaded — just cut off the black dead flower head to a leaf node, and not only will that make the plant look better, but also it might initiate new flower development. This plant is sterile, however, meaning that it doesn’t produce seeds — propagation is through tissue culture only.