Trial: Perennial
Year Trialed: 2009
Good Qualities
Year 1
Beautiful rich color (3); Good stem length; Extra large flower; Dark wine-colored stem, petals flare out, rather than droop as regular echinacea does, cone was not enlarged as in other echinacea, customers loved the color, and reported that it held up well - 7 days or more; Petals stand out rather than drooping, good flower size; Petals with good substance and horizontal, color deeper than straight species and to my eye, more attractive.Problems
Year 1
None (2); Short this year, I'm hoping for longer stems next year.Insect or Diseases
Year 1
None (2); Fungus and insect problems.Similar species/cultivars
Year 1
'Tomato Soup' and 'Tiki Torch'Trial Data
Year 1
| Plants received alive (%) | Plants flowering (%) | Yield (stems/plant)¹ | Stem Length (inches)¹ | Market Appreciation Rating² | Repeat Again Rating² | Ease of Cultivation Rating² | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average | 100 | 87.5 | 4.9 | 14.3 | 3.5 | 4.0 | 4.0 |
| Range of Responses | 100 | 50-100 | 1-8 | 10-20 | 3-5 | 3-5 | 3-5 |
| Plants received alive (%) | Plants flowering (%) | Yield (stems/plant)¹ | Stem Length (inches)¹ | Market Appreciation Rating² | Repeat Again Rating² | Ease of Cultivation Rating² | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average | 100 | 87.5 | 4.9 | 14.3 | 3.5 | 4.0 | 4.0 |
| Range of Responses | 100 | 50-100 | 1-8 | 10-20 | 3-5 | 3-5 | 3-5 |
¹Data shown are from those respondents who harvested stems. Some respondents may not have harvested stems because they were too short. Flowering stems may be longer next year after plants are established. See comments section for more details.
²1 to 5 scale, with 5 being the best. Market ratings are based on sales to wholesalers, retailers, or final consumers direct.
Comments
Year 1
My favorite echinacea so far (but that isn't saying too much). Approximately 30% of the plants died by the end of the summer.