Echinacea purpurea

‘Double Decker’

DOUBLE DECKER CONEFLOWER

Echinacea purpurea ‘Double Decker’
DOUBLE DECKER CONEFLOWER

Echinacea purpurea ‘Double Decker’ is a very unusual cultivar, with top-knot head-dresses.

Quirky flowers with lovely top-knot head dresses

‘Double Decker’ is the result of over twenty years of careful breeding, to create such quirky and enchanting flowers.
So each  flower’s prominent cone is topped with a cluster of bright pink petals, as well as the usual reflexed rose pink petals.

Just as easy & hardy to grow as the plain Cone Flowers

In all other respects the plant is identical to, and just as hardy, as the usual Echinacea purpurea.

Long blooming through summer & autumn

It is equally long blooming as it’s plainer cousins, producing abundant flowers through summer and autumn.

Hardy perennial in sun, heat, frost & dry

And like all coneflowers, it is a reliable and hardy perennial that tolerates sun, heat, frost and drought well.
Grow ‘Double Decker’  in Full Sun to Partial Shade.

Water-wise & not fussy about soil type

It is not fussy about soil type, as long as it is well drained.
And it is water-wise, and requires minimal extra watering.

Stout strong stems – no need for stakes

The flower stems grow to 80cm, above the low mound of foliage. They are stout and strong stems that do not require staking.

Superb cut flowers

‘Double Decker’ blooms also make superb cut flowers.
And they are long lasting in a vase or arrangement, being indispensable for summer  and autumn floristry.

Rabbit & deer resistant plant

Rabbits and deer rarely trouble mature plants of Echinacea purpurea (no-one told the beats that Echinacea is reputed to boost the immune system – Sssshhhhhh).
Though they may nibble on fresh shoots in a hungry year, Echinacea is not generally one of their favourite foods.

Pollinator favourite – top of the pops in autumn

Echinacea purpurea blooms are beloved by a wide range of our useful pollinators – from honeybees to solitary native bees; from butterflies to moths; from honey-eater native birds to autumn seed eaters.
The prominent central cones are rich in pollen and nectar, and at a useful time of year during the autumn when not so many other flowers are available.
Then if you do not cut all the blooms – the remaining decorative, long-lasting seed heads are a boon to seed eating birds in winter.

SEED SOWING ADVICE: QUICK & EASY

Sow Echinacea purpurea ‘Double Decker’ at any time of year in a punnet indoors, whenever suitable temperatures can be given (20-24°C).
OR
Sow directly into the garden in late winter & spring or late summer & autumn.

Sow indoors for optimum germination & quick plants: First sow the seeds in a punnet on surface of good quality seed raising mix.

Then press gently to the surface of the mix to ensure good contact.
But only barely cover the seeds (do not bury) – as light is needed for germination.

Now thoroughly moisten the punnet by standing it in a shallow water bath, and allowing the moisture to percolate to the surface of the mix from below.

And place the moist, sown punnet in a well-lit position (but not in direct sunlight).
Temperatures of 20-24°C approx. are optimum for rapid germination.
And you can use a heat-mat if you have one, or a warm window ledge.

Continue to keep the punnet moist by misting from a fine spray water-bottle to maintain consistent moisture.

Seedlings emerge in approx. 5-20 days.
Germination may start as soon as 5 days and may take up to 20 days.
Echinacea will flower in 11 to 15 weeks from sowing, so flowers are possible in the first year.

Prick out seedlings once large enough to handle, into small pots or tubes, to grow on before planting out in well drained garden soil.

Seed Count: 20 seeds per pack approx.
(We always aim to exceed the seed count and give a generous serve).

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