Echinacea purpurea Lakota Yellow

Echinacea purpurea 'Lakota Yellow' is a variety of Echinacea from the Artisan collection, which forms a well-branched plant of medium size and bears a vibrant flowering throughout the summer on sturdy stems and medium green foliage. The flowers, like large daisies, are bright yellow and gradually fade as they wither, creating a range of yellow shades, from the brightest to the softest. Its petals surround a pointed and small cone. It enlivens borders, sunny edges or flowering pots from the first year and makes beautiful long-lasting bouquets.

Echinacea purpurea 'Lakota Yellow' belongs to the Asteraceae family. It is a horticultural creation resulting, among others, from Echinacea purpurea, native to the western United States, from Georgia to Michigan, passing through Oklahoma and Ohio. This perennial with a strong character boldly colonizes rocky meadows, savannas, open woodlands, and roadside edges in its natural habitat. 'Lakota Yellow' has a solid, bushy, erect, and dense habit, reaching a height of 50 to 70cm (20 to 28in) with an equivalent width. The opposite, lanceolate, green leaves are covered in rough hairs. Flowering occurs from July to September, it is slightly fragrant and highly visited by butterflies. The branched flower stalks end in a solitary head, 10 to 12cm (4 to 5in) in diameter, with a pointed, bristly, brown-green disc, surrounded by a collar of horizontal or slightly trailing ligules of bright yellow colour. The fruit is an achene that releases seeds which are eagerly consumed by birds. This plant firmly and deeply anchors itself in the soil with its highly developed root system.

Echinacea 'Lakota Yellow' is a very resistant plant that adapts to difficult conditions, occasionally tolerating intense heat, humidity, and drought. Its remarkably colourful flowering brings dynamism and cheerfulness to borders. Combine it with flowers of similar colours but different shapes, such as foxgloves, yarrows, daylilies, bee balms. Its warm colours are beautifully complemented by the golden or pink spikes of ornamental grasses such as Stipa tenuifolia, Schizachyrium scoparium, or Muhlenbergia capillaris. Its vibrant combination with another foliage plant, common lady's mantle, is superb. Finally, it brightens up fresh or dried flower arrangements.