Hi Bonnie. I guess my main concern would be saving seed from any plant that is a hybrid. I don't think they would grow true from seed, but I could be wrong. Another concern is having more than 1 variety of coneflower and the possibilities of cross pollination. I grow only one kind of coneflower (Echinacea tennesseensis) and when I collect the seed to give away, I know they will grow true because there are no other conefolwers around. I guess if your plants do pollinate each other you might get some different and interesting flowers.

They probably will cross pollinate. I'm afraid I don't know how stable the genes in the new coneflower are and may eventually revert back to the great-great grandparent. That's the adventure of cross pollinating and seed saving, however, you might get a hybrid that stabilizes into a nifty new cone that everyone wants! When growing out seeds from cross pollinated hybrids you usually get a mixed batch (some looking like the parent and some looking like the grandparents). Grow them out and only keep the plants that contain the attributes you want. Obviously this process takes a while. One thing is sure, by saving the seed and growing them you will end up with a coneflower. Don't know what it will look like but it will be a coneflower. :o)

I've always thought the most patient (and crazy) people in the world are the plant geneticists who spend decades trying to acheive that one "special" plant!