That is wonderful Linda! So glad you posted this because I asked on another forum what the seedlings of 'new' coneflowers were like and if they came true or even somewhat similar to the parent.
I wouldn't mind buying a few new Echinaceas if I knew they came even slightly similar to the parent (in case it should die off..)

Thanks so much for sharing! Your new coneflower is beautiful.
CMK

Wow, I like it! I have Sundown & get lots of seedlings, but they all look like the parent so far. I thought Sundown wasn't supposed to grow true to seed, but mine does. Wish mine would veer off like yours.

Thank you so much! I have had seedlings from E. Summer Sky, Harvest Moon, and Sundown. None have bloomed a plain pink, like the regular purple cone flower. I also have Sunrise but have never had a seedling from that plant. I wonder if the seeds are sterile.

I've passed on bunches of these seeds, and had feedback from one person, who lives in the deep south. They were very happy with the various colors of plants that they got from the seeds I sent. I wish others who I had sent seeds to had emailed me with their results. I love to find out how seeds that I send to other people bloom out.

Linda

Now that's stunning!! Thanks for posting such a gorgeous photo. I've got winter sown/seed grown Sundown covered with buds that should open soon and am now even more anxious to see what they'll look like. Sure hope they look like yours! I got the seeds in trade so of course can't be certain what I got but I'm growing Harvest Moon, Sunrise, Sundown and White Swan all from seed. They grew last year but will bloom this year (if I ever get them in the ground that is). Fingers crossed I can post photos that spectacular a few weeks from now.

Oh please do post the pictures, gardenweed. I'd love to see them. This is the first time I had anything this bright come from Sundown. It was a surprise! I have another volunteer seedling about to open up, and we'll see what it looks like. Can you tell that I didn't get around to cleaning out the beds yet - and I'm glad that I didn't.

I'd like to see what your seedlings from Sunrise look like since I've never had any volunteers from Sunrise. We do mulch pretty heavily, but have had other things to do in the spring for the last few years, so we don't get around to putting the mulch down quite as early as we used to. Hence the different volunteers that we've had.

Thanks for the compliment, Nancy. I guess you just never know what you're going to get from seedlings from the Big Sky echies.

Linda, so you have Harvest Moon? I bought Harvest Moon about 4 years ago, the year I got it & the following year it was fine. The next 2 years it bloomed a muddy white, very disappointing. It hasn't bloomed yet this year, but I may pull it out anyway. I have White Swan which I like, but don't care for this muddy white. Perhaps the parents died, & seedlings took over, but odd that 3 Harvest Moons would die & seedlings take come up & bloom in the exact place.
Ah well, stuff happens. I got Hot Papaya last season on clearance, thought I had lost it over the harsh winter, but it finally showed up. No buds or anything yet. I hope it sets seed. I have so many echinaceas in my yard I'm sure there would be some crossing, but I'd like more of the Hot Papaya plants. Haven't had any crossing going on with the Sundown & it is right with Harvest Moon.