Correction: Big Sky Series, not Summer Sky lol

I've seen 'Tomato Soup' in bloom in person at Terra Nova and yes, it is EXACTLY the color of tomato soup!! Amazing and on my list as well :-))

Is that tomato soup made with or without milk? :-)

I'd love to see a good soft gold/yellow coneflower. My 'Harvest Moon' didn't thrive here.

...keep us posted on how it grows for you next year. We'll want pictures, of course.

Cameron

I'm keeping my eyes peeled for these two too. Of the Big Sky series, so far After Midnight, Summer Sky, Twilight (although small flowers) and Sundown have been beautiful this year. Sunset and Sunrise have some quilled petals so don't know if they'll be staying. All these spent last winter in pots in a protected area, planted out this spring, the jury's out until they go through a winter in the garden. Razzmatazz, Coconut Lime and Pink Double Delight have done well so far, time will tell.
I'm really liking Ruby Star, just planted it this summer and it is fast becoming one of my favorites.

Annette

I also pre-ordered Tomato Soup and Macaroni and Cheese for next spring. Hope they will perform well.

You are making me hungry! I just planted Harvest Moon and Kim's Knee High this year, and they bloomed all summer, just a few at a time, but enough to enjoy them. The white swan that reverted to pink/purple that I transplanted was unhappy for awhile, but ended up blooming and happy looking near the new ones.

Sue

I just planted a "Tiki Torch" too. That should be beautiful! Striking Orange petals.

Where did you order your "Tomato Soup" from?

Green Thumbs Galore has the pre-order Tomato Soup and Mac and Cheese.

They also have Pink Poodle, another 2009 Echinacea. I just got a Tiki Torch from them - plug size, but looks very healthy.

Were the plants a good size and healthy that you ordered from Green Thumbs Galore?

Thanks!

Carol

Kind of small, but healthy looking otherwise, and they have good reviews from Dave's Garden Watchdog 30.

The plants I ordered from Green Thumbs Galore was very healthy and they bloomed this year!I cant say that for the echinacea I ordered from other companies!

I made the mistake of ordering Sunset Echinacea and Sunrise Echinacea from Gorge Top Gardens. Now, I don't even know if that's what I've got planted! According to Dave's Garden Watchdog 30, Gorge Top Gardens previous customers were saying that they would order one thing and actually get another. They would order for example, Sunrise and get a pink echinacea! I will never order from there again. Too many problems were noted with the company.
I can only hope that when spring comes I actually did plant a Sunrise and Sunset, and not something else entirely. I made sure to plant them somewhere other than my planned, raised perennial garden, so that if they are not true to the "tag" it will not mess up my color scheme.
My planned garden includes, deep blues, purple, orange, bright yellows. To be surprised by a different color such as a white coneflower would really mess up my plans!

A few more I'm keeping my eye open for in the new year are Coral Reef, Firebird, Tangerine Dream, and Flame Thrower.
Paranoia looks like another nice yellow but will it have the deformed petals?

Annette

I ordered Pink Poodle, Tomato Soup, and Meringue.

I'm winter sowing Hula Dancer and the crosses I don't have room for inside. I saved seeds from all my plants and I'm planting all of them. There's no telling what will come up!

I am looking at the new Heronswood catalog. I can't believe they offer a 'Paradiso Mix' that shows several varieties with all sorts of deformed flower petals. I had put down Tiki Torch, Harvest Moon and Hope on my list to order from them, but when I saw that picture of Paradiso Mix I stopped myself. I mean Heronswood of all places, what are they thinking? Sorry, had to vent a bit... lol Happy New Year everyone.

Kentstar I have had several Sunrise for several years and have been very pleased with them. Tall honey scented long blooming. Unfortunately I lost one Sunset and the other has the twisted and missing petals. But at least Sunrise is one I would recommend.

What size is a "Starter Plant" or plug from Green Thumb?

The Big Sky series will not survive here -- maybe if they were really heavily mulched? Who knows? They really hate winter. All 16 of mine died last year. Every other echinacea (Coconut Lime, Fancy Frills, the double pink all 3 multiplied. I would never waste $$$ on Big Sky again.

Oh no I hate to hear this Carl because I bought several different varieties last summer and preordered many for this year!

Carl did you plant your plants late in the year and they possibly didn't have time to get established before winter?

I also didn't have much luck with those Big Sky plants. They don't grow well here in Zone 7 either. I had some literally turn black! They were planted right beside the normal pink ones which all looked beautiful. Also...I had Coconut Lime and Pink Double Delight and they are beautiful and return each year.

I warn everyone to avoid echinaceas which are red, yellow, or orange. There is not a reliable plant in those colors.

Anyone come across a whole plant photo of Pink Poodle? ... I've only seen individual blooms and makes we wonder how free flowering it is ?

Terry

Who names these plants? Pink Poodle...Tomato Soup...Macaroni and Cheese...

I bet 'Bacon' and 'Ruby ipod' as names are waiting in the wings to be released sometime in the next few years! :-)

The 'Paradiso Mix' shot on the cover of burpee's catalog now shows in nice detail the twisted petals... though at least in the description it speaks of the them directly... like it is a nice trait.

I am sure many shots are like this in catalogs.. but it is fun to compare the differences between the shots from the cover to the inside page shot.. different composition and background. Gotta love Photoshop!!!

Bumping up this old thread... My pre-ordered Echinaceas from the Green Thumbs Galore are on the way to me... Hope they will perform better than Big Sky ones. 'Tiki Torch' survived (we had very harsh winter), but looks small.

I placed another order on the new varieties at McGlauflin's Perennials. I ordered 'Coral Reef', 'Hot Papaya', and 'Tangerine Dream'. They say that these babies will be in stock on Monday 03 August, 2009. They have free shipping on these presale items. It seems that 'Tangerine Dream' is already gone...
Just in case anyone is interested...

I predict Pink Poodle will be a good plant. The others will be similar to the Big Sky Series in their vigor. I ordered Tomato Soup and Pink Poodle.

I have the purple cone, white swan, yellow clasping, summer sky and black eyed susan's. I just ordered the tomato soup, tiki torch, and coconut lime!! I cant wait to get them and get'm planted. Looks like they do well in even colder zones than mine. I didnt realize they were that hardy! I also have about 4 black eyed susan plants if anyone is interested in swaping that may be in my area. I am in Indy. I will bring to you for swap.

Check out the new Echinacea Hot Summer it is listed in Fothergille's Catalog but is not yet available in the US ! It starts out orange and turns an almost red with both colors on the same plant. Echinacea Irrestible is just that. More great plant's from Marco Van Noort in Holland! These are a must have!