Echinacea purpurea 'Sparkler'

ëSparkler is a compact coneflower that is noted for its rose-pink rays and variegated leaves. It is a sport of Echinacea purpurea 'Ruby Giant'. It typically grows in an upright clump to 30\ tall and to 18\" wide on sturdy, well-branched stems that do not need staking. Each flower (to 4\" diameter) features downward-arching rose-pink rays which encircle an orange-brown center cone. Flowers bloom from late spring to late summer, sometimes with additional sporadic bloom until frost. Flowers are fragrant. Narrow-ovate leaves (to 6î long) are attractively speckled or mottled with ... more »

ëSparkler is a compact coneflower that is noted for its rose-pink rays and variegated leaves. It is a sport of Echinacea purpurea 'Ruby Giant'. It typically grows in an upright clump to 30\ tall and to 18\" wide on sturdy, well-branched stems that do not need staking. Each flower (to 4\" diameter) features downward-arching rose-pink rays which encircle an orange-brown center cone. Flowers bloom from late spring to late summer, sometimes with additional sporadic bloom until frost. Flowers are fragrant. Narrow-ovate leaves (to 6î long) are attractively speckled or mottled with creamy white in spring and early summer, with the white variegation gradually fading as summer progresses. Good fresh cut or dried flower. The dead flower stems will remain erect well into the winter, and if flower heads are not removed, the blackened cones may be visited by goldfinches or other birds that feed on the seeds. Echinacea comes from the Greek word ìechinosî meaning hedgehog in reference to the spiny center cone found on most flowers in the genus. U. S. Plant Patent PP17,298 was issued on December 19, 2006." (less)