Supreme Cantaloupe Coneflower - 3 Gallon

Supreme Cantaloupe Coneflower earns its name from a flower color that is genuinely like no other in the coneflower world — the precise, saturated warm orange of a ripe cantaloupe melon, neither washed-out nor artificially intense, but a rich, warm, glowing orange that provides exceptional presence in the summer and fall garden. The Supreme series was specifically selected for unusually strong color saturation in large, well-proportioned flowers, and 'Cantaloupe' exemplifies this breeding achievement with a color that holds its intensity well throughout the long bloom season without fading. The fragrance adds another dimension that distinguishes it from typical unscented coneflower varieties.

Supreme Cantaloupe Coneflower requires full sun with at least 6 hours of direct sunlight for the most prolific flowering and strongest, most compact plant structure. Water deeply and regularly during the first growing season to establish an extensive root system; once established, the plant tolerates periodic drought while preferring regular water for continued prolific blooming. Provide well-drained, fertile soil. Remove spent blooms to prolong the flowering season through fall. Prune back old foliage and fertilize in early spring before new growth emerges.

• Deadheading: Remove spent blooms regularly to extend the prolific blooming season well into fall.
• Spring cleanup: Prune back old foliage in early spring before new growth emerges; fertilize at the same time.
• Division: Divide established clumps every 3 to 4 years in spring or fall to maintain vigor.
• Seed heads: Leave some spent flower heads through winter to provide bird food and decorative structure before spring cleanup.
• Patent note: Asexual reproduction of this patented plant (PP #24,897) is prohibited under the Plant Patent Act.

Supreme Cantaloupe Coneflower is perfect for a border or cutting garden, and tolerates drought when established. Use it in masses for a sweeping display of warm cantaloupe-orange color that lasts from summer through fall, or mix it into perennial borders for distinctive warm-toned accent color. Its compact, non-floppy habit makes it equally effective at the front or middle of a border without staking. The fragrant flowers are outstanding for fresh-cut arrangements, and the remaining seed heads provide wildlife food and decorative winter interest when left standing.

Supreme Cantaloupe Coneflower is an outstanding wildlife plant throughout its long summer-to-fall bloom season. Butterflies, native bees, bumble bees, and other beneficial pollinators are powerfully attracted to the fragrant, nectar-rich orange blooms. As the flowers fade and central cones mature in fall, they become an important seed food source for goldfinches, chickadees, and other seed-eating songbirds. Leaving the seed heads standing through winter extends the plant's wildlife value well past the end of the bloom season. Its proven deer resistance ensures it continues to provide these wildlife benefits even in landscapes subject to significant browsing pressure.

Supreme Cantaloupe Coneflower is rated for an impressively broad range of USDA Zones 4 through 10. This exceptional climate adaptability — from the coldest northern gardens through the warmest subtropical regions of the continental United States — reflects the remarkable resilience and adaptability of the hybrid Echinacea breeding lineage from which this variety descends. In Zone 4, it reliably returns each spring after winter lows as cold as -30 degrees Fahrenheit. In warmer zones through Zone 10, it performs as a long-lived, reliable herbaceous perennial with consistent annual performance.

Supreme Cantaloupe Coneflower is one of three varieties in the Supreme series of Echinacea, introduced through the collaborative efforts of Terra Nova Nurseries and Blooms of Bressingham in 2013. These varieties were specifically selected for exceptional color saturation, strong branching, full and compact habit, and large, well-proportioned flowers — qualities that represent significant improvements over earlier hybrid coneflower introductions. The genus name Echinacea derives from the Greek word echinos, meaning hedgehog or sea urchin, a reference to the prickly central cone characteristic of all coneflower species. Echinacea is native to North American prairies and has been used in traditional Indigenous medicine and modern herbal preparations for centuries. Asexual reproduction of Supreme Cantaloupe (PP #24,897) is prohibited under the Plant Patent Act.