Coneflower (Echinacea 'Sunrise' BIG SKY SUNRISE)
Echinacea 'Sunrise' BIG SKY SUNRISE Coneflower features showy, fragrant yellow blooms. Low maintenance and drought tolerant for US Zones 3-9.
Complete Plant Information
Overview
Echinacea ‘Sunrise’ BIG SKY SUNRISE is a highly valued hybrid Coneflower, celebrated for transforming summer landscapes with its large, sweetly fragrant citron yellow ray flowers. This sturdy perennial offers reliable summer color, making it a staple for gardeners seeking low-effort beauty and excellent texture. As an adaptable plant, it thrives in varied conditions, enduring heat and humidity with ease.
This cultivar is part of the Big Sky Series, known for producing upright, columnar plants on strong stems that generally do not require staking, maintaining a tidy appearance throughout the blooming season. Beyond aesthetics, the Coneflower attracts essential pollinators, contributing vital ecological services to the garden ecosystem. Their structure also provides winter interest, especially if the dark seed cones are left standing after the blooms fade.
Cultivating Echinacea ‘Sunrise’ BIG SKY SUNRISE ensures a dependable source of material for both fresh arrangements and dried floral crafts. Its tolerance for less-than-perfect soil conditions means it remains an easy-to-manage choice for borders and mixed plantings where other showier specimens might struggle.
Fast Facts
- Plant Family: Asteraceae
- Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
- Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 3-9
- Size at Maturity:
- Height: 2-3 ft
- Spread: 1-2 ft
- Bloom Time: June to August
- Bloom Description: Yellow with orange center cone
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
- Water Needs: Dry to medium
- Maintenance Level: Low
How to Grow
The best time to plant Echinacea ‘Sunrise’ BIG SKY SUNRISE is in the spring after the danger of hard frost has passed, or in early fall. Ensure the planting location provides well-drained soil. While this Coneflower adapts to average, dry-to-medium moisture, it flourishes best when situated in full sun, though it tolerates light afternoon shade.
Maintenance for this tough perennial is minimal. Water regularly to establish the plant, but once established, Echinacea ‘Sunrise’ BIG SKY SUNRISE is highly tolerant of drought, heat, and humidity. While plants rebloom well without intervention, prompt removal of spent flowers encourages more prolific flowering and maintains a neat garden appearance throughout the season.
If clumps of the Coneflower become overcrowded, typically around every four years, it is beneficial to divide them. This division helps rejuvenate the plants and maintain vigor. This adaptable species also handles poor soil conditions well, further reducing the need for heavy soil amendment or fertilization.
Landscape Uses
The upright nature and vibrant yellow blooms of Echinacea ‘Sunrise’ BIG SKY SUNRISE make it an exceptional choice for the mid-border. These plants work beautifully when massed or grouped together to create significant blocks of continuous summer color. They excel as accent plants, drawing the eye with their distinctive flower shape and bright hue.
Consider utilizing this Coneflower near the front of borders, where their height (2-3 feet) won’t obscure shorter specimens, providing structure against taller background plantings like ornamental grasses or spike flowers. They integrate well into naturalistic settings like open woodland gardens or rock gardens where dry, well-drained soil is common.
Due to their robust, non-floppy stems, Echinacea ‘Sunrise’ BIG SKY SUNRISE serves as an excellent architectural element. They pair harmoniously with other sun-loving perennials that share similar low-water needs, such as Sedum, Russian Sage, or various ornamental Alliums.
Standout Features
Flower Qualities
- Showy
- Good Cut
- Good Dried
Noteworthy Characteristics
Echinacea is a genus of seven species all endemic to eastern and central North America. Coneflowers bloom from June to August with some sporadic later bloom. Attractive to butterflies and other insect pollinators. 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. Genus name of Echinacea comes from the Greek word echinos meaning hedgehog or sea urchin in reference to the spiny center cone found on most flowers in the genus. ‘Sunrise’ is a new hybrid coneflower in the Big Sky Series from Richard Saul of Itsaul Nurseries in Atlanta, Georgia. It is reportedly the result of 2002 cross-pollination of E. Purpurea ‘White Swan’ (seed parent) with an unnamed selection of E. Purpurea x E. Paradoxa (pollen parent). This is an upright and columnar plant with free branching that typically grows in a clump to 30-36” tall on sturdy stems that do not need staking. It is noted for its large, sweetly-fragrant coneflowers (to 5” diameter) featuring citron yellow rays and green-maturing-to-orange center cones. Ray flowers extend horizontally rather than droop. Flowers bloom from late spring to later summer. Coarsely-toothed, dark green leaves (to 6” long) are lanceolate. U.S. Plant Patent PP16,235 issued February 7, 2006
Tolerances
- Deer
- Drought
- Clay Soil
- Dry Soil
- Shallow-Rocky Soil
Potential Problems
Coneflowers, including Echinacea ‘Sunrise’ BIG SKY SUNRISE, are generally tough but remain susceptible to common plant ailments. Aster yellows, a disease transmitted by leafhoppers, can cause distorted, greenish growth and must be managed by removing infected plants. Various fungal and bacterial leaf spots can appear, particularly in humid conditions or where air circulation is poor.
To prevent common issues, ensure adequate spacing between plants to promote good airflow. Regularly watch for pests like erythroid mites and Japanese beetles, which can chew on the foliage and flowers. Treatment often involves targeted organic sprays or handpicking beetles early in the season.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hardiness zones is Coneflower suitable for?
Echinacea ‘Sunrise’ BIG SKY SUNRISE is suitable for USDA Zones 3 through 9, offering wide adaptability across the US.
How large does Coneflower grow?
This variety typically reaches a height between 2 and 3 feet and spreads outward from 1 to 2 feet at maturity.
When does Coneflower bloom?
The primary bloom time for this Coneflower is from June through August, featuring distinctive yellow petals around an orange center cone.
What sun exposure does Echinacea ‘Sunrise’ BIG SKY SUNRISE need?
For the best performance and most abundant blooms, Echinacea ‘Sunrise’ BIG SKY SUNRISE requires full sun, although it tolerates partial shade.
Conclusion
The Echinacea ‘Sunrise’ BIG SKY SUNRISE Coneflower provides significant gardener value through its vibrant yellow display, low maintenance needs, and high adaptability to challenging soil types. Integrating this proven perennial into your sunny borders adds essential structure and supports local pollinators. Check your local USDA Zone compatibility and plan to plant during the spring for the best season establishment of your new Coneflower.
Wildlife Benefits
The persistent central cones of the Coneflower are a vital resource for winter wildlife. Once the petals drop, the stiff, blackened seed heads remain standing, providing high-energy food that goldfinches and other small seed-eating birds actively seek out during colder months. This provides garden interest long after the primary bloom season is over.
Furthermore, the large, open flower structure of Echinacea ‘Sunrise’ BIG SKY SUNRISE is highly attractive to a wide range of insect pollinators during the summer months. Bees and butterflies frequently visit these steady bloomers, making them excellent additions to pollinator gardens or any area needing a reliable nectar source.
Propagation Tips
While Echinacea ‘Sunrise’ BIG SKY SUNRISE is a hybrid protected by a patent, propagation is typically achieved through the division of established clumps. Clumps should be divided every four years or when they begin to look overcrowded, usually in early spring or fall. Dig up the entire clump, gently separate sections ensuring each division has a healthy root mass and several crowns, and replant them immediately into prepared soil.
Seed propagation is less recommended for named hybrids, as offspring may not reliably express the desirable traits of the parent plant, such as the specific citron yellow ray color. However, if you wish to save seed from the dried cones for non-hybridizing purposes or general Coneflower breeding attempts, harvest the seed heads in late fall once fully blackened and store them in a dry, cool location for spring sowing.
