
Ratibida columnifera f. pulcherrima 'Red Midget' syn. Ratibida columnifera 'Red Midget'
Upright Prairie Coneflower 'Red Midget'
Ratibida is a group of plants within the Aster family, Asteraceae. They are commonly referred to as Prairie Coneflowers and are native to parts of North America. Specifically Ratibida columnifera (known as the Upright Prairie Coneflower or Mexican Hat Plant) can be found from North Mexico right up through to Canada. It is a herbaceous perennial plant, producing finely cut leaves, and from early summer through to autumn it produces large flowers on branching stems, each with an upright central cone surrounded by a number of ray florets usually of brown/red colouration with yellow tips. Although a perennial, it is sometimes grown as an annual and can easily be raised each year from seed. This makes an excellent plant for prairie style gardens. 'Red Midget' is a compact dwarf form with primarily brown-red florets and a very thin yellow margin.
Contributed by @vec
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Full sun
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Occasional watering
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Full Frost Hardy: 5F (-15°C)
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Free draining and fertile
Common name
Upright Prairie Coneflower 'Red Midget'
Latin name
Ratibida columnifera f. pulcherrima 'Red Midget' syn. Ratibida columnifera 'Red Midget'
type
Herbaceous Perennial
family
Asteraceae
ph
6.0 - 8.0 Acid - Neutral
Plant & bloom calendar
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Best time to plant
full grown dimensions
Ratibida columnifera f. pulcherrima 'Red Midget' syn. Ratibida columnifera 'Red Midget'
Ratibida is a group of plants within the Aster family, Asteraceae. They are commonly referred to as Prairie Coneflowers and are native to parts of North America. Specifically Ratibida columnifera (known as the Upright Prairie Coneflower or Mexican Hat Plant) can be found from North Mexico right up through to Canada. It is a herbaceous perennial plant, producing finely cut leaves, and from early summer through to autumn it produces large flowers on branching stems, each with an upright central cone surrounded by a number of ray florets usually of brown/red colouration with yellow tips. Although a perennial, it is sometimes grown as an annual and can easily be raised each year from seed. This makes an excellent plant for prairie style gardens. 'Red Midget' is a compact dwarf form with primarily brown-red florets and a very thin yellow margin.
Planting young plants
From Late Autumn TO Early Spring
Ratibida will grow in any well cultivated and well drained garden soil in an open and sunny site. All perennial species and taller annual species require staking in exposed positions. Plant perennial varieties in late autumn or spring. On dry soils, mulch with peat or decayed manure early in spring unless height restriction of taller varieties is wanted.