Echinacea purpurea 'Merlot'

ëMerlot is a purple coneflower that typically grows in an upright clump to 34î tall on distinctive dark wine red stems (hence the cultivar name) clad with toothed, tapering, narrow-ovate, dark green leaves. Large daisy-like coneflowers (to 5î diameter) with narrow rose pink rays and orange-bronze central cones bloom from June to early September, sometimes with sporadic later bloom to frost. The dead flower stems will remain erect well into the winter, and if flower heads are not removed, the blackened cones are often visited by goldfinches that feed on the seeds. Echinacea comes from the Gr... more »

ëMerlot is a purple coneflower that typically grows in an upright clump to 34î tall on distinctive dark wine red stems (hence the cultivar name) clad with toothed, tapering, narrow-ovate, dark green leaves. Large daisy-like coneflowers (to 5î diameter) with narrow rose pink rays and orange-bronze central cones bloom from June to early September, sometimes with sporadic later bloom to frost. The dead flower stems will remain erect well into the winter, and if flower heads are not removed, the blackened cones are often visited by goldfinches that feed on the seeds. Echinacea comes from the Greek word ìechinosî meaning hedgehog in reference to the flowers spiny center cone. U. S. Plant Patent Applied For (PPAF). (less)