Sombrero® Blanco Coneflower

Light Needs

Partial Sun to Full Sun

(At Least 5 Hours of Direct Sunlight)

Mature Height

22-24 Inches

Mature Spread

18-20 Inches

Growing Zones

4 to 9

The versatile white flower of Sombrero Blanco Coneflower can add elegance to any landscape or provide a natural complement to reds, blues and yellows in containers and garden beds. Coneflower (Echinacea) is native to prairies and meadows of North America, so it has all the benefits of native plants: easy care, adaptability, and food for wildlife. But few natives boast the big white blooms of Sombrero Blanco. Be sure to plant at least one near a summer evening hangout spot to enjoy the white blooms in low light.

The white petals of this coneflower overlap one another and surround a golden yellow center. They appear on stalks about 18 to 20 inches above the main plant, which is loaded with dark green leaves. In zones 4 through 9, this perennial thrives in most soil types and is both drought and salt tolerant. Butterflies, along with bees and hummingbirds, enjoy the flowers, and deer typically avoid bothering the plants. In late summer, small songbirds flock to the seeds that form on faded flowers.

Sombrero® Blanco Coneflower Care

Plant Sombrero Blanco Coneflower in spring in a spot that gets at least 4 hours of sun a day. The flowers can adapt to nearly any soil that drains well; the soil does not have to be rich or fertile. It is best to avoid soil that tends to hold water and stays soggy, even in containers. Water every day or so for the first few weeks and then gradually increase the time from one watering to the next. Established coneflowers need little to no watering in future seasons.

Remove faded flowers (deadhead) for full blooming all summer. In late summer, you might choose to leave faded flowers on the plant to feed birds as days and nights cool. There is no need to cut stalks until late winter, and the plant needs no pruning other than trimming the stalks and any dead leaves down to just above new growth near the ground in late winter. This native perennial needs little fertilizing, and probably will benefit more from top-dressing the soil around the plant with organic compost each spring after trimming.

Sombrero® Blanco Coneflower Spacing

Be sure to account for the full size of your coneflowers when planting them in groups for borders or mass plantings. Space plants about 18 to 20 inches from center to center.