Echinacea purpurea 'Ruby Star'
Trial: Perennial
Years Trialed: 2004, 2005
Good Qualities:
Year 1
Good stems and flower size; Good for the seed pod dried.
Year 2
Nice seed pod
Problems:
Year 1
Insects like echinacea as do deer.
Year 2
Trial Data
Year 1
| Plants flowering (%) | Plants dead at end of summer (%) | Yield (stems/plant) | Stem Length (inches) | Market Appreciation Rating - Wholesale (1) | Market Appreciation Rating - Retail (1) | Market Appreciation Rating - Consumer (1) | Repeat Again Rating (1) | Ease of Cultivation Rating (1) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average | 100 | 0 | 5.5 | 22.6 | 2.0 | 3.0 | 3.7 | 3.8 | 4.3 |
| Range of Responses | 100 | 0 | 3-8 | 16-32 | 2 | 3 | 3-4 | 2-5 | 4-5 |
(1) 1 to 5 scale, with 5 being the best. Market ratings are based on sales to wholesalers, retailers, or final consumers direct.
Year 2
| Plants Surviving (%) | Yield (stems/plant) (1) | Stem Length (inches) (1) | Market Appreciation Rating (2) | Repeat Again Rating (2) | Ease of Cultivation Rating (2) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average | 100.0 | 14.7 | 25.3 | 3.5 | 3.7 | 5.0 |
| Range of Responses | 100 | 4-30 | 20-36 | 3-5 | 3-5 | 5 |
(1) Data shown are from those respondents who harvested stems. Some respondents may not have harvested stems because they were too short. Flowering stems may be longer next year after plants are established. See comments section for more details.
(2) 1 to 5 scale, with 5 being the best. Market ratings are based on sales to wholesalers, retailers, or final consumers direct.
Supplier
Grow'n Sell/Benary (GS)
320 Lower State Rd.
Chalfont, PA 18914
215-822-1276
FAX 215-997-1770
www.gro-n-sell.com
Comments:
Year 1
One trialer noted a vase life of 7 days.
Year 2
One trialer reported the postharvest life as 6 days.