I think it is no secret I have a slight echinacea fetish. How can you not love a flower that looks like it could be used to assassinate you??
This is “Evan Saul” (not quite fully open yet):
Such an unsual coral-y color, such a lovely contrast with the dark green foliage. Cheerfully self-sowing and a guaranteed flutterby attractor.
(Available from Plant Delights.)
on 
on May 4th, 2009 at 3:55 pm
I have a plan to put many, many colors of echinacea in our front bed; maybe, like, every color I can afford.
on May 5th, 2009 at 7:53 am
I can’t find any cultivar that will survive here. Occasionally a nursery in our area would sell the common purple ones but they seem to have given up because the plant just doesn’t make it here and I guess customers were complaining, etc.
I’ve tried a few times to grow the common purple one they were selling. No go. Must be a bit too hot/humid here; the plants basically start to rot. Still, I always say that’s the one flower I really wish I could grow — I’d have TONS of them in every variety if I could get them to work here; I love them and it’s very frustrating to not be able to grow them. Have you ever tried growing that cool-looking “coconut lime” one?
Sigh.
on May 5th, 2009 at 8:25 am
@dogette:
I have White Swan, Evan Saul and the plain old purpurea that were planted last year. The first two got a bit of mildew during the rainy season, I plan on using copper spray more often this year to try and combat that. Otherwise just keep them well-drained and don’t plant them too close to anything else and they seem to do fine.
This year I’ve added Fragrant Angel, Tomato Soup, Tiki Torch and Green Envy. I remember seeing the coconut lime variety but thinking it too pale. I like the bright colors.