Mexican Hat 'Prairie Coneflower'
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Also known as Mexican Hat, Red-spike Mexican Hat, Upright Prairie Coneflower, Prairie Coneflower, Long-headed Coneflower, Thimbleflower
Ratibida columnifera, affectionately known as the long-headed coneflower, prairie coneflower, or Mexican Hats plant, is a charming, upright, hairy plant that typically reaches heights of 1 to 3 feet. You can spot it flourishing from Alberta to Minnesota and all the way down to Arkansas, New Mexico, and Mexico, with the Great Plains being its favorite home. This lovely member of the aster family is recognized for its striking elongated, cylindrical flower center and its beautifully cut leaves.
In the summer, it graces us with blooms that feature a long, narrow center disk and delightful drooping yellow rays at the base. Its leaves are pinnately lobed, adding to its unique charm. The ray flowers of the R. columnifera forma columnifera variety sparkle in yellow, while the rarer R. columnifera forma pulcherrima variety showcases lovely brownish-purple rays. The dark brown center disks have a delightful resemblance to the crown of a slender sombrero, a nod to the plant's alternate name, the Mexican hat.
Long-headed coneflower thrives in average, dry to medium, well-drained soils and loves basking in full sun. It’s quite resilient, tolerating drought, light shade, and even somewhat poor soils, though it prefers to avoid moist, heavy clay. While you can grow it from seed, be patient—it won't bloom until its second year.
Height: 1’-3’
Spread: 1’-1.5’
Bloom: J'ne-September
Li'ht: Full Sun, Part Shade
Water: Low to Medium
Zone: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Origin: North America
Spring Shipping:
Orders are shipped within 7-10 business days. We will email you if there are expected delays.
When you order plants from our nursery, you can expect them to arrive in the best possible condition. Our team carefully packs each order using sturdy, biodegradable packaging materials.
Your plants' appearance may vary depending on the season and their current growth stage. We may cut back the leafy growth of some plants to prepare them for shipment and transplanting.
5 Gallon and Up: Any plant purchased to ship over 5 Gallons will be shipped bare root. This means we will remove the plant from its original pot, remove the soil surrounding the roots, and wrap the roots with a biodegradable plastic bag. This reduces weight and the likelihood of damage during shipping.
Once your plants arrive, it is essential to plant them as soon as possible. This will help them rebound and thrive. If you cannot plant immediately, water regularly and keep the roots off heat-conducting surfaces.
Newly transplanted plants often require more water until their roots are well established. Plan to water them 1-3 times weekly for the first few months.
