Product Description
Echinacea SUMMERSONG™ Firefinch™ US7,982,110 (30)ct Flat
Common Name: Coneflower
formerly known as LAKOTA™ Fire
This seed strain shows a variety of beautiful shades of red, varying from reddish-orange to pinkish red. Each 3½" flower has horizontal petals. With a shorter stature, it is a great fit for the front of the border, small spaces, and combination containers. Just like other Coneflowers, this will bloom nearly all summer long, all the way up to frost.
Praised for their cheerful brightly colored flowers, coneflowers are a mainstay in today's garden. Be sure to leave some spent blooms on the plants in the fall because their seeds provide winter food for finches and other birds. The dried seed heads also provide architectural interest in the winter.
Coneflowers like it sunny and hot. Though they will tolerate light shade, fewer flowers will be produced, and the plants will be weakened. Light, loamy soils are best, but coneflowers will grow in any well-drained soil. Once established, they are quite drought tolerant. If properly cared for, they will form attractive colonies and will live for many years.
Height: 12.0-16.0 Inches
Spread: 16.0-18.0 Inches
Hardiness Zones: 4,5,6,7,8,9
Flower Color: Red Shades
Foliage Color: Green shades
Full Sun (> 6 hrs. Direct Sun) to Part Shade (4-6 hrs. Direct Sun)
Low to Average Water Needs
Poor to Fertile Soil Quality
Bloomtime: Early to Late Summer
Attracts Butterflies
Attracts Songbirds
Bee Friendly
Deer Resistant
Growth Medium
Border Plant, Cut Flower, Dried Flower, Drought Tolerant, Easy To Grow, Mass Planting
The Echinacea Summersong™ Firefinch™, formerly known as Lakota™ Fire, was developed by Walters Gardens. It is a compact coneflower with a fusion of pink and red blooms that is effortlessly achieved without pruning or deadheading. This vibrant plant was the first coneflower to be included in the Proven Winners brand. It is a shorter variety of coneflower, reaching a mature height of 12 to 16 inches with a spread of 16 to 18 inches. The Firefinch coneflower blooms from summer through fall and has a long blooming period. The flowers are fragrant and attract pollinators such as bees and butterflies. It is a low-maintenance, drought-tolerant, deer-resistant perennial.
Characteristics of the Echinacea Firefinch
- This coneflower is hardy in zones 4-8.
- It reaches a height of 12-16 inches with a spread of 16-18 inches.
- The flowers exhibit a variety of beautiful shades of red, varying from reddish-orange to pinkish red.
- Each flower has horizontal petals, a unique characteristic that distinguishes it from other coneflowers.
- The foliage is a vibrant green.
- It thrives in full sun or part sun.
- It has low to average water requirements.
- The plant can tolerate a variety of soil qualities, ranging from poor to fertile.
- It can grow in acidic, neutral, or alkaline soil.
- Bloom time is early to late summer.
- It attracts butterflies and is deer resistant.
- The Firefinch coneflower is native to North America.
- Patent number: US7,982,110
Care Instructions for the Echinacea Firefinch The Firefinch coneflower is a low-maintenance plant, especially due to the fact that it does not require deadheading. However, there are a few care instructions to keep in mind to ensure it thrives in your garden.
- Planting When planting coneflowers, choose a site with full sun and moderately rich, well-drained soil. Space plants 1 to 3 feet apart, depending on the variety. Dig a hole twice as wide and slightly deeper than the root ball. Remove the coneflower plant from its nursery pot and gently tease out roots if potbound. Set the plant in the hole with the base level with the soil. Backfill the hole with soil and tamp down slightly to remove air pockets. Water well.
- Soil Coneflower is tolerant of rocky, clay, or sandy soils, but prefers soil that is rich in organic matter. Good drainage is essential to prevent root rot. For containers, use a high-quality all-purpose potting mix.
- Watering Coneflower water requirements can vary depending on the site. Though coneflower is somewhat drought tolerant, it prefers moderate water for best growth and flowering. Allow soil to dry out in between waterings. Irrigate more frequently during heat or dry spells. This native perennial thrives in drought and heat conditions.
- Fertilizing Coneflower does best with little or no supplemental fertilizer. Add a thin layer of compost around the base of plants each spring.
- Pruning Deadheading spent flower heads can help prolong bloom time, but it is not necessary. In late winter or early spring, cut back dead growth before plants break dormancy.
Wildlife Benefits As coneflowers gracefully fade, the seed heads step in, providing food for birds during the fall and winter. The Firefinch coneflower also serves as a host plant for the Silvery Checkerspot butterfly and the Wavy-Lined Emerald moth.
Uses The Firefinch coneflower makes a fantastic cut flower and can be incorporated into arrangements to bring the beauty of the garden indoors.
Companion Plants The Firefinch coneflower can be planted alongside other plants with similar cultural needs of full sun and good drainage. Some companion plants for a mixed border include:
- 'Morning Light' ornamental grass
- 'Blue Boa' hummingbird mint
- Uptick™ Yellow & Red tickseed
- Rock 'N Round™ 'Pure Joy' stonecrop
The Echinacea Summersong™ Firefinch™ is a vibrant and low-maintenance coneflower that is perfect for beginner gardeners. It is a shorter variety with multicolored blooms in shades of pink and red. This coneflower thrives in sunny locations with well-drained soil and is drought-tolerant once established. It is a great choice for adding color to gardens, borders, and containers. The Firefinch coneflower is also a valuable addition to pollinator gardens and provides food and habitat for wildlife.
Thirty (30) plants per flat (or tray). Approximate Plug Measurements: 3 inches deep x 2 inches wide.
Other Details
The most important part of the plant is its root system. Healthy roots are the foundation of a healthy, vibrant plant. The type of plug container used is based on the specific needs of the plants. Perennials offered as bare root traditionally perform better when planted as bare root.Planted in a specialized mix, potted plants have well established root systems. Top growth stage will vary depending on the current life cycle and time of year when shipped. In Winter and early Spring dormant plants may be shipped. Dormant plants may be planted right away, even before the last frost date.
Most bare root varieties are field grown for at least one season, though Hemerocallis and Hosta are grown for two seasons. The bulk of the soil is removed during the harvesting process and the tops of most varieties are trimmed back to the crown. They are graded, packed in shredded aspen or sphagnum moss and stored in freezers until ready to be shipped.
See our Container Sizes and Bare Root Perennials pages for more information.
Plant information and care is provided in the Overview section, Plant Genus Page and general information is provided in the Planting Care & Guides. Additional questions can be asked on each Plant page.
Plant Spacing: Using the maximum mature spread or width of a plant to guide spacing, ensures space to grow to full size. To fill an area sooner, plant them closer together. Just remember, future thinning or transplanting may be needed.
Water: Keep a close eye on newly planted perennials, especially throughout the first growing year. Most early plant loss is due to too much or too little water!
