The industry makes more money selling this years named selections - not those from years ago. They also paint themselves into a corner when each years crop is "better than the past". My comment is always, "Why should I buy it now when next years version will be an improvement?"

None of the echinacea cultivars perform as well as 'Magnus' in my garden.

Kim's has performed well from me, and yes, it came from the previous owner of Niche outside of Chapel Hill. None of the new, interesting colors have been anything but annuals for me.

I am willing to try new cultivars if I can find them at a good price, but most are too expensive as "annuals." And the critters seem to prefer the straight species.