I’ve just had news through from Harini Korlipara at plant breeders Terra Nova Nurseries in Portland, Oregon. Two new echinaceas from her breeding program will be released in the new year. From the pictures, they look good – but I’m not so sure about the names: ‘Mac N Cheese’ and ‘Tomato Soup’? Hmmm… I know Terra Nova boss Dan Heims likes food names for his plants, but he may have slipped up here – they just don’t sound very classy, do they? What do you think?
Young plants will be released to growers in a few months time. Give them a year to grow them on into saleable plants - so expect them to be on sale in retail nurseries and garden centers in the spring of 2009. I can’t wait to try them.
You're right... the plants look good - but the names stink!
Posted by: Archie McHugh | December 22, 2007 at 09:42 AM
I have had rotten luck with echinaceas, the first time i had some i planted them in the ground nearby to some rudbeckias the echinaceas died almost immediately, this year i bought some and put them in a pot they stayed green but never progressed.
Posted by: Digger | December 24, 2007 at 12:48 PM
So far I have not yet been tempted to buy the newer orangey echinaceas... and I'm thinking those names won't be any more of an incentive!
Posted by: Kim | December 25, 2007 at 02:31 PM
It's easy to overwwater echinaceas when you first plant them, Digger, especially in clay soil - perhaps a little irrigatory overenthusiasm was a problem? And they dislike being soggy over the winter too.
Well, Kim, I agree about the names (and with Archie too) but I'd suggest giving Harvest Moon a try; it's done well wherever I've seen it - and the name is fine!
Posted by: Graham Rice | December 28, 2007 at 10:06 AM
Right thanks for that Graham perhaps I should give them another try, maybe in a large pot that will help to keep them away from irrigatory mishaps :-)
Posted by: Digger | December 29, 2007 at 07:37 AM
Echinaceas are tempermental when we attempt to winter them over in a cool greenhouse. Really have to be careful about overwatering. More echinacea die because of staying too wet when they are dormant.
Newer echinacea hybrids are more difficult for some reason than the seed grown echinacea. Could it be because of their parentage?
I know E. paradoxa serves as a parent of some of the newser hybrids. Anyone grow the plain species E. paradoxa?
Posted by: Al | December 30, 2007 at 09:34 AM
Bob Brown at Cotswold Garden Flowers reports the same problem with growing echinaceas in pots. Some he stands out on slats, off the ground, to improve the drainage.
Posted by: Graham Rice | December 30, 2007 at 03:33 PM
Echinaceas just don't wear well for me. They tilt, fade, get ratty-looking real fast. I am sure it is my fault.
Yes, tacky names. If they had to, it ought to have been mac 'n' cheese. No k. Though names don't bother me. I have a golden showers rose that I like a lot.
Posted by: eliz | January 02, 2008 at 07:58 PM