I have one of these that is about to open up. The blooms look really small so far. The plants are small too, but this is only their second year. I have a bad feeling that the bad genetics of the Big Sky coneflowers come from these. I'll post a picture tomorrow of the bud opening.

I've had my Paradoxa for 4 years and this is the best it's looked. My plant was very small when I bought it, probably a 3 inch pot size. I think it was planted in the fall of '05. It came up about the same size in the spring of '06 and bloomed. We moved in early August, and it was dug up and replanted at the new house. And let me say that it was NOT happy. They have a tap root and do not like to be moved. It grew a little bigger last year, but did not bloom at all - probably pouting! This year, it is just spectacular. It's very tall, about the size of my Tall Bearded irises, which it is next to, and a dozen buds. The first one is opening nicely and the color is great. I'll take a picture tomorrow and post it for you.

I have 4 of the Big Sky Echinacea - Sunrise, Sunset, Harvest Moon, and Summer Sky. This is their second year here. All came back nicely from the winter and all are about to bloom. They set nice buds and the plants are healthy and robust. After seeing how nice Paradoxa looks this year, it would be a good substitute for them, since the color is so pretty and bright.

Linda

I have had no luck with any of the Big Sky echinaceas, but this is my second year for Paradoxa. It was in a 4" pot last spring when I got it, and it never bloomed. This year, it is at least 2' tall and has many buds. Several blooms are open and they are all huge and a very bright yellow. I am very happy with it, just keeping my fingers crossed that it stays around!

Thanks so much Folks! I can't wait to see pics!!

{{gwi:241760}}{{gwi:241761}}Here are my photos. These are kind of frail in my opinion. The Big Sky plants inherited some of this plant's weaknesses, but not its winter-hardiness. These will return every spring. You can count on it, but Harvest Moon, for example, isn't a good perennial! Mine have blooms that are half the size of last year's plants. My friend at work says her plants are the same way. Her plants even have distorted petals. I guess if you want a yellow echinacea, this is the plant to get!

I have had paradoxa for several years, I grew from seed I received in a trade. It doesn't spread fast, but has been very reliable, I really like it. This is a picture from 3 years ago, I need to get a new picture, the plant is much bigger now.
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ngraham, your plant is beautiful! Mine is a new one I just got last year. This bud is about to open. I look forward to seeing it when it gets to the state of your photo. They do seem very reliable. Wild plants are so much better!

This is good to know (and see!!) I like reliable much more than flamboyant. A large drift of Paradoxa would be lovely.

I really like it--especially since I've failed with the new yellow/orange hybrids, the first of which were created a couple of towns over (so I assumed I'd be able to grow them). I can't remember if I planted the EP in '06 or '07, but it bloomed nicely last year and is huge this year. For me it's a strong, lusty plant that gets pretty tall. Right now it's waist-high, not yet blooming, and the clump looks to be about two feet across. I've got in one of the downhill, and thus comparably moist, spots in my sandy-soil yard. It also doesn't seem to mind being crowded (it holds its own against neighbors and weeds), a major attribute in my garden.

I've also had paradoxa for many years. Mine were also grown from seed. I love this one, but it doesn't seem as hardy as the regular purpurea or maybe it's just short-lived. In any case, they can just suddenly disappear from the garden for no apparent reason. In my garden they are also one of the last plants to show new growth in the spring, so it might be wise to mark the spot where you've planted this one. You don't want to start digging around the plant come spring thinking it may be dead when it just hasn't started to grow yet.

Kevin

Do they reseed themselves? With only one blossom per stalk I imagine several plants would look better- or do they grow multiple stalks like Coreopsis?

Tasymo, I think they will have more stems when they get older. Mine only has 1 because it's young. They do look good in a group. I have mine growing by my Tennessee Coneflowers. They look good together.

Mine were grown from seed and took several years before they finally bloomed. This year I have a pink flower on one of my plants. There is a yellow flower also. Has anyone else had this happen?

I grew my paradoxa from seed from a gw trade. They are 3 years old and this is the second year theyve bloomed. At this point they have just one stem I hope they send up more stems next year...other than that I am very happy with the perfomance of this plant... I say go native!!

Here's the pictures of my Pardoxa. I'm really pleased with this years performance.

Here's the whole plant next to a TB Iris:

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This is the first bloom that opened 3 days ago:

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Here are younger blooms just starting:

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Linda