A Plant to Love, Butterfly ‘Rainbow Marcella’ Coneflower

Here is a new plant to love! The latest addition to the Butterfly series of coneflowers, ‘Rainbow Marcella’ is a colorful little number. A very floriferous plant, this perennial adds a splash of color with a single plant from early summer until the first hard frost. Its compact nature lends itself well to container gardening and small-space gardening. We also like to see it in large drifts or bands within a sunny garden design.

Common name: ‘Rainbow Marcella’ coneflower
Botanical name:Echinacea Butterfly ‘Rainbow Marcella’
Flowers: Orange sherbet transitioning to raspberry pink
Foliage: Green
Bloom time: Early summer to frost
Height: 18 inches
Width: 18–24 inches
Sun requirements: Full sun
USDA Zones: 4–9

For a healthy plant with full blooming potential, plant in the full sun in moist, well-draining soil. Once established, it does tolerate drought. This is an easy-care plant, especially since it’s common practice to leave spent flowers on the plant (read: no deadheading!) to reveal seed heads that attract foraging birds, such as goldfinches. The blooms are attractive to bees and butterflies, too.

Photo courtesy of Plants Nouveau