Sunny Days™ Ruby Coneflower

Ruby Coneflower is part of the Sunny Days™ collection of coneflowers. This range is bred to flower heavily while still attracting beneficial pollinators like native varieties of Echinacea. Ruby has a deep red color and fully double flowers that last for weeks on the plant and will last when cut fresh for arranging. The shorter size also makes this coneflower great for growing in containers or smaller garden areas. 

Coneflowers are resistant to browsing deer and most diseases. After these tough but beautiful perennials are established, they are also drought tolerant. Native coneflower varieties are easy to grow with little maintenance, and Ruby Coneflower is no different. The long-blooming perennials have three seasons of interest with just a little attention required in early spring.  Coneflowers mix well with almost any garden scheme and look particularly at home with switch grass, Russian sage, maiden grass, and coreopsis.

Sunny Days™ Ruby Coneflower Care

For best performance, plant Ruby in a full-sun area that has well-drained soil. The texture can be anything from heavy clay to sandy tilth, although loamy and rich soil will guarantee good blooming for this cultivar. Water coneflowers consistently until the plant is established. As the plant matures, watering can be reduced to a deep soak once a week. Soaker hoses and drip irrigation ensure that the foliage stays dry while the roots are efficiently watered. Fertilize with a granular formula early in the spring as the first shoots emerge. Look for a formulation with a balanced NPK of 10-10-10.

Deadhead spent flowers to keep the plants tidy and compact through the growing season. Allowing some flowers to set seed will provide not only winter interest with the dramatic seed heads but nutrition for non-migrating birds. Clear away spent top growth early in the winter to prepare for the new season. Mulch each spring or fall with 2-3 inches of shredded leaves, organic compost, or arborist chips.

Sunny Days™ Ruby Coneflower Spacing

Ruby Coneflower is a compact cultivar reaching a mature height of 18-24 inches and a spread of 24-30 inches. Space multiple plants 24 inches apart when planting in the garden. Grow Ruby Coneflower in a container at least 12 inches in diameter.

Sunny Days™ Ruby Coneflower Information