Echinacea 'Double Scoop Cranberry'
Life Cycle: Perennial
Use: Premium cut flower, focal flower, cottage gardens, perennial borders
Height: 60–90 cm
Spacing: 40–50 cm between plants
Transplant to finish: 20–24 weeks from transplant. Plants establish in the first season and flower more heavily from the second year onward.
Transplant carefully, avoiding disturbance to the taproot. Once established, plants perform best when left undisturbed for several years.
Pinching: Not recommended. Pinching delays flowering and reduces the size and quality of the primary blooms.
Staking: Usually not required. Although stems are sturdy, support netting may be beneficial in windy sites or highly fertile soils.
Frost: Hardy once established. Tolerates moderate to heavy frosts and overwinters reliably in temperate climates. Protect young plants from severe frost during establishment.
Photoperiod: Facultative long-day plant. Flowers most abundantly under the long days of late spring and summer.
Exposure: Full sun (6–8+ hours daily)
Soil: Well-drained, moderately fertile loam or sandy loam
pH range: 6.0–7.5
Fertiliser: Apply a balanced fertiliser in spring as new growth emerges. Avoid excessive nitrogen, which promotes lush foliage at the expense of flowering.
Watering
Keep evenly moist while establishing.
Once established, plants are drought tolerant and benefit from deep, infrequent watering.
Avoid waterlogged soils, especially during winter, as prolonged wet conditions may lead to crown or root rot.
Harvest stage: Harvest when blooms are fully open and the petals are firm. Double flowers do not develop the prominent central cone seen in single-flowered Echinacea's.
Stem length: 40–70 cm, depending on growing conditions.
Post-harvest:
- Vase life is typically 7–10 days, with good hydration and cool storage.
Regular harvesting or deadheading encourages continued flowering throughout summer and into early autumn.
Unlike single-flowered Echinacea's, 'Double Scoop Cranberry' produces little to no useful seed and offers reduced value for seed-eating birds due to its fully double blooms.
