1 / 3
© Captain-tucker, some rights reserved (CC-BY-SA) · Wikimedia Commons
Echinacea purpurea 'Sombrero Salsa Red'
Sombrero Salsa Red Coneflower
Key Features
Attracts PollinatorsAttracts ButterfliesDeer ResistantDrought TolerantContainer Friendly
Native to North America
Maintenancemoderate
Overview
Echinacea purpurea 'Sombrero Salsa Red' is a compact, clump-forming perennial reaching 18-24 inches (45-60 cm) tall with an equal spread. Stems are sturdy and well-branched, supporting multiple flower heads without staking. Leaves are lance-shaped to ovate, 3-5 inches (8-13 cm) long, dark green, coarse-textured, and covered in short, stiff hairs. Ray flowers are deep red to tomato-red, 3-4 inches (8-10 cm) across, surrounding a raised, dark brown to near-black central cone 1-1.5 inches (2.5-4 cm) in diameter. Individual flowers last 2-3 weeks on the plant, with successive blooms extending the display from July through September. Seedheads persist through winter if not removed, aging to dark brown. Growth rate is moderate; plants establish to full width in 2-3 years from a single container-grown start. The root system is a taproot with fibrous lateral roots. This cultivar maintains a shorter, more compact habit than the straight species, which typically reaches 30-48 inches (75-120 cm). Foliage yellows and dies back after hard frost, with new basal growth emerging in mid to late spring; late emergence is typical and does not indicate plant loss. Aster yellows phytoplasma can cause deformed, greenish flowers; affected plants do not recover and serve as a source of infection for leafhoppers to spread to adjacent plants.
Native Range
Echinacea purpurea is native to eastern and central North America, from Ontario and the Great Lakes states south to Georgia and Louisiana, west to Iowa and Texas. The species occurs in open woodlands, prairies, and meadow edges on well-drained to moderately moist soils. 'Sombrero Salsa Red' is a cultivar developed by Darwin Perennials.Suggested Uses
Commonly planted in perennial borders, prairie-style gardens, and pollinator plantings at 18-24 inch (45-60 cm) spacing. Grows in containers of at least 3 gallons (11 L); container-grown plants are shorter-lived than ground-planted specimens, typically 2-3 years versus 5-8 years. The compact habit limits self-sowing compared to taller species-type Echinacea purpurea.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height1'6" - 2'
Width/Spread1'6" - 2'
Reaches mature size in approximately 2 years
Bloom Information
Flowers appear from July through September in zones 4-7. In zones 8-9, bloom may begin in June and taper off by late August as heat stress increases. Individual flowers persist 2-3 weeks; total bloom period extends 8-12 weeks with regular deadheading. Without deadheading, bloom duration decreases by approximately 3-4 weeks.Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
Deep red to tomato-redFoliage Description
Dark greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 6-12 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Water deeply once per week during the first growing season. Established plants tolerate 2-3 weeks without rain but flower production decreases during prolonged drought. Deadhead spent flowers regularly to promote continued bloom; leaving seedheads reduces subsequent flower production by approximately 30-50%. Aster yellows phytoplasma causes deformed, greenish flowers; affected stems should be removed and destroyed. Japanese beetles feed on flowers in July and August in eastern regions. Crown rot develops in heavy, poorly drained soils, particularly during wet winters.Pruning
Cut all stems to 2-3 inches (5-8 cm) above the crown in late fall after foliage has died back, or in early spring before new growth emerges. Deadhead individual spent flowers during bloom season by cutting the stem back to the next lateral bud or basal leaf. Divide clumps every 4-5 years in spring when flowering decreases.Pruning Schedule
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
early springfall
Maintenance Level
moderateContainer Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 3 gallons