CHUXAY GARDEN Yellow and Red Coneflower Flower Seeds for Planting Outdoors Perennial Ratibida Columnifera Seed Upright Coneflower Mexican Hat 500 Seeds Fall Plant Drought Tolerant Low-Maintenance

Ratibida columnifera (Mexican Hat Plant) is an upright, clump-forming perennial boasting profuse, golden yellow or vibrant rust red daisies with 3-7 drooping rays surrounding a long and prominent central disk - resembling a sombrero with a drooping brim. Blooming beautifully from late spring to fall, the blossoms open on slender stems with bright green, feathery and deeply cleft leaves. Attracting butterflies, they often bloom by the thousands and provide weeks of eye-catching color. Their attractive seedheads further extend the season of interest and will be visited in the fall and winter by birds that feed on the seeds. It prefers to grow in the dry, open spaces of prairie grasslands and mountain foothills and is found along roadsides, in waste and disturbed areas, and along railroad rights-of-way. Prairie coneflower does well on a variety of soil types, including loams and rocky to gravelly-sandy textures. It tolerates a pH range from slightly acidic to moderately alkaline and weak saline soils, in areas receiving 10 to 30 inches (254 to 762 mm) of annual precipitation. Prairie coneflower attains optimum growth in full sun and low to moderate levels of competition within a native plant community. When grown from seed, these plants usually begin blooming in their second year. Mature plants tolerate drought well and flourish in fairly dry soil, though they will benefit from occasional watering in dry weather. The blooming period tends to be longer with occasional watering. Mature plants can be divided every 2-3 years for healthy growth. This plant attracts butterflies and repels deer, as well as growing well in rocky, sandy, or clay soil. It makes an excellent choice for hot, dry areas.