Prairie Coneflower (Mexican Hat) YELLOW

Native Bees, Pollinator, Rock Garden, U.S. Native, Xeriscape

Upright prairie coneflower (Mexican Hat) is a native, drought-tolerant wildflower of the Great Plains that is commonly found from south central Canada to northern Mexico, and west from Manitoba and Minnesota to southeastern Idaho. It prefers to grow in the dry, open spaces of prairie grasslands and mountain foothills and is found along roadsides, in waste and disturbed areas, and along railroad rights-of-way. Prairie coneflower does well on a variety of soil types, including loams and rocky to gravelly-sandy textures. It tolerates a pH range from slightly acidic to moderately alkaline and weak saline soils, in areas receiving 10 to 30 inches (254 to 762 mm) of annual precipitation. Prairie coneflower attains optimum growth in full sun and low to moderate levels of competition within a native plant community. This plant is a common component of such ecological sites as shallow, silty, shallow to gravel, and silty steep. Associated species include western wheatgrass, bluebunch wheatgrass, prairie Junegrass, Sandberg bluegrass, common gaillardia, white and purple prairie clover, big sagebrush, and western yarrow.

Ratibida (Ratibida Columnifera Mexican Hat) - Mexican Hat is a fast-growing wildflower that is not fussy about soils and is easy to grow from Ratibida seeds. The flowers are showy and have a unique look! The blooms are sombrero-shaped, with  yellow petals drooping down, and a central brownish red cone. Ratibida Mexican Hat works wonderfully in a naturalized setting or meadow. It's drought tolerant, but if it has some moisture, the bloom season will last longer. The Mexican Hat flower is a great source of nectar for beneficial insects, and the Ratibida plants are deer resistant.

The Mexican Hat plant grows best in full sun and prefers very hot, dry locations. It is helpful to divide or thin out Mexican Hat plants every few years to maintain their vigor. Blooms mid-summer and into the fall and puts on a beautiful show! It is very easy to propagate from Mexican Hat flower seeds in spring or fall though a fall seeding is recommended. How To Grow Mexican Hat From Seed: Ratibida seeds can be sown into weed-free soil with the top 1 - 2 inches loosened. Lightly rake the flower seeds into the loose soil and barely cover. Keep the Ratibida Columnifera seeds moist until germination, and water the plants until they are established. Ratibida plants from grown from seed usually bloom the second year.

Approximately 52,000 seeds per ounce.