The Perennial Plant Association has named the purple coneflower cultivar ‘Magnus’ as the perennial plant of the year for 1998. Known botanically as Echinacea purpurea ‘Magnus,’ this cultivar and species was selected for its outstanding performance as a sun-loving, long-flowering perennial that is easy to grow.<\/p>\n
Purple coneflower is native to the midwestern plains, though the cultivar ‘Magnus’ hails from a Swedish nursery and is named for the plant’s breeder. Purple coneflower as a species is noted for its upright, 4-foot tall plants with flower heads made up of a central cone of bronze-colored “disc” flowers surrounded by highly-colored, downward curving “ray” flowers ranging from white to purple to red. ‘Magnus’ was selected for its crimson-red bold flowers with a wide, flat petal display, lending the flower head a larger appearance.<\/p>\n
Like its parent species, ‘Magnus’ is well adapted to a wide range of growing conditions, including somewhat droughty sites. However, optimum flowering results from being planted in well-drained loamy soil to which some organic matter, such as compost, peat moss or dried manure has been added. The plants may be slow to get started in cool spring conditions, but will catch up rapidly once hot summer weather takes over.<\/p>\n
Gardeners should be able to find containerized plants of ‘Magnus’ at local garden centers or seed in mail-order catalogs this spring. ‘Magnus’ can be easily grown from seed, especially when started early in spring indoors for transplanting to the garden 6 to 8 weeks later. Plants also may be propagated by cuttings of the stem or roots, or by dividing established plants.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"