Coneflower (Echinacea 'Evan Saul' BIG SKY SUNDOWN)

Overview

Echinacea ‘Evan Saul’ BIG SKY SUNDOWN is a standout herbaceous perennial prized for its dramatic, large blooms that bring brilliant color to the summer garden. This specific Coneflower cultivar produces striking russet-orange ray flowers surrounding a prominent dark brown central cone, offering strong visual interest from early summer through late August. As a member of the Big Sky Series, this plant exhibits an upright and columnar habit on sturdy stems, rarely needing staking, making it an excellent vertical accent.

This adaptable Coneflower variety thrives in easier conditions, appreciating full sun but tolerating part shade, and showing high tolerance for drought and heat once established. Its low maintenance requirement makes it a practical choice for gardeners seeking reliable, long-lasting color that also supports local ecosystems. Echinacea ‘Evan Saul’ BIG SKY SUNDOWN reliably attracts beneficial insect pollinators throughout its blooming season.

Beyond its aesthetic appeal, this specific hybrid Coneflower provides lasting structure in the landscape. The spent flower heads often persist into winter, offering textural contrast and seeds for goldfinches. Planting Echinacea ‘Evan Saul’ BIG SKY SUNDOWN ensures season-long performance with minimal fuss, solidifying its reputation as a cornerstone perennial.

Fast Facts

• Plant Family: Asteraceae
• Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
• Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 3-8
• Size at Maturity:
  • Height: 2.5-3 ft
  • Spread: 1-1.5 ft
• Bloom Time: June to August
• Bloom Description: Russet-orange rays with dark brown center cone
• Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
• Water Needs: Dry to medium
• Maintenance Level: Low

How to Grow

Planting Echinacea ‘Evan Saul’ BIG SKY SUNDOWN is best done in spring or fall, ensuring the soil is well-drained. While adaptable, this Coneflower performs best in average moisture conditions maintained in full sun exposure for the most vibrant blooms, though it tolerates part shade. This plant thrives even when soils are poorer, showing commendable tolerance for heat, humidity, and clay soil types.

Once established, watering requirements are minimal; allow the soil to dry out between irrigation sessions, reflecting its dry to medium water needs. Fertilizing is usually unnecessary, as rich soil can sometimes lead to floppier stems. Deadheading spent flowers is optional, as the plant reblooms well without it, but prompt removal encourages more prolific flowering and maintains a tidier appearance.

For long-term health, divide overcrowded clumps of Echinacea ‘Evan Saul’ BIG SKY SUNDOWN approximately every four years. In late winter or early spring, you can cut back the old stalks, although allowing the architectural seed heads to remain standing provides winter visual interest and food for birds.

Landscape Uses

Echinacea ‘Evan Saul’ BIG SKY SUNDOWN is highly versatile, excelling as a structure plant near the front or middle of mixed perennial borders due to its manageable height. Its upright, columnar habit works wonderfully when massed together to create swathes of russet-orange color that define the mid-summer garden. This Coneflower is also an excellent choice for rock gardens or woodland fringe areas where drainage is good.

Consider pairing this specific Coneflower with companions that share similar cultural needs, such as Ornamental Grasses for textural contrast or late-blooming Salvias that extend the color palette into autumn. Because of its drought tolerance, it fits seamlessly into xeriscaping designs or naturalized meadows. For maximum impact, use Echinacea ‘Evan Saul’ BIG SKY SUNDOWN as an attractive specimen plant where its unique coloration can serve as a focal accent.

Standout Features

Flower Qualities

• Showy
• Fragrant

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, attracting butterflies and insect pollinators. Good fresh cut or dried flower; the blackened cones may be visited by goldfinches if flower heads are not removed. Genus name comes from the Greek word echinos meaning hedgehog or sea urchin, referencing the spiny center cone. SUNDOWN is a hybrid in the Big Sky Series, noted for large, slightly-fragrant coneflowers (to 4” diameter) featuring overlapping, slightly reflexed, russet-orange rays with dark brown center cones on sturdy stems up to 36” tall.

Tolerances

• Deer
• Drought
• Clay Soil
• Dry Soil
• Shallow-Rocky Soil

Potential Problems

All coneflowers, including Echinacea ‘Evan Saul’ BIG SKY SUNDOWN, are susceptible to aster yellows, which causes stunted, distorted yellow growth. Fungal and bacterial leaf spots can also appear, often exacerbated by high humidity or overhead watering. Vigilance is required for pests like erythroid mites and Japanese beetles, which may feast on the foliage and flowers. To minimize disease pressure, ensure ample air circulation by providing appropriate spacing and avoiding overhead watering during the evening hours.

Frequently Asked Questions

What hardiness zones is Coneflower suitable for?

This specific Coneflower, Echinacea ‘Evan Saul’ BIG SKY SUNDOWN, is reliably hardy in USDA Zones 3 through 8.

How large does Echinacea ‘Evan Saul’ BIG SKY SUNDOWN grow?

It typically reaches a height between 2.5 and 3 feet tall, with a spread of 1 to 1.5 feet wide on upright, columnar stems.

When does Coneflower bloom?

Echinacea ‘Evan Saul’ BIG SKY SUNDOWN generally begins blooming in June and continues strong through August, often flowering sporadically until the first frost.

What sun exposure does Echinacea ‘Evan Saul’ BIG SKY SUNDOWN need?

While it will tolerate part shade, this robust Coneflower achieves its best color and sturdiest growth structure when planted in full sun.

Conclusion

Echinacea ‘Evan Saul’ BIG SKY SUNDOWN delivers exceptional value through its sturdy structure, ease of care, and brilliant russet-orange, slightly fragrant flowers. This dependable Coneflower hybrid ensures summer interest while proving highly resistant to deer and drought. Verify your planting zone compatibility (3-8) before incorporating this stunning Echinacea into your landscape design this season.

Wildlife Benefits

The central cones of this and other Coneflowers are a vital late-season food source. Once the bloom period ends in August, leaving the stems uncut allows goldfinches and other seed-eating birds to harvest the mature seeds throughout the winter months. This sustained interest adds dynamic texture to the dormant garden.

Companion Planting

Because Echinacea ‘Evan Saul’ BIG SKY SUNDOWN performs well in average to dry, well-drained soils, pair it with other sun-loving, relatively low-water perennials for cohesive drift planting. Excellent companions include Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia), Gaillardia (Blanket Flower), or certain shorter ornamental grasses like little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium). These partners share a similar preference for full sun and benefit from the excellent drainage this plant requires, avoiding overly wet feet.