Mellow Yellows Echinacea arranged on a white background.
Mellow Yellow Echinacea in yellow vase on white background.
Mellow Yellow Trio of blooms with variegated leaves.
Mellow Yellow Echinacea blooms with camera prop
Mellow Yellow Echinacea growing in garden
Mellow Yellows Echinacea arranged on a white background.
Mellow Yellow Echinacea in yellow vase on white background.
Mellow Yellow Trio of blooms with variegated leaves.
Mellow Yellow Echinacea blooms with camera prop
Mellow Yellow Echinacea growing in garden

Echinacea Seeds,
Mellow Yellows

45 Reviews#HB186 · 15 seeds
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Description

Sunshine in bloom, this easy mix glows through shades of bright yellow and deep gold that warm up the whole garden scene. Compact plants reach about 24 inches tall, making them just right for containers and front borders where their nectar-rich flowers can be enjoyed up close. Bees and butterflies adore them, and the plants are wonderfully drought tolerant and adaptable to many soils, so they slip easily into meadows, herb gardens, and perennial plantings alike. Cheerful, no-fuss, and full of mellow good vibes, this is a sweet little magnet for pollinators.

Plant Details

Botanical Name
Echinacea purpurea
Life Cycle
Perennial
Sun Requirement
4–12 hr.
Days to Germinate
10–15
Days to Maturity
120
Planting Depth
⅛ in.
Plant Spacing
8–10 in.
Ideal Temperature
65–90°F
Frost Hardy
Yes

Growing Guide

When to Grow

Because Mellow Yellows tops out at just 24 inches, it is an easy coneflower to raise in pots and move where you want it. Sow 1/8 inch deep in containers indoors 8-12 weeks before your last frost, keeping the mix moist until sprouts show at about 10 to 15 days and 65-70°F, then set the plants out once the last frost has passed. Direct sowing about two weeks before your last frost works too. Space plants 8 to 10 inches apart; they reach maturity in roughly 120 days and are hardy through Zones 3-8.

How to Sow and Plant

  • Seeds germinate in 10-30 days.
  • Start indoors 8-12 weeks before last frost or direct sow seeds outdoors before last frost (you can direct sow in the fall and allow seeds to sit over winter).
  • Sow seeds 1/4- 1/2 inch deep.
  • Ideal germination temperature is 65-70 F.
  • Keep soil relatively moist until germinated.

How to Grow

  • Plants are very adaptable and will tolerate a wide range of conditions, but will perform their very best when given full sun and rich, well-drained soil.
  • Space plants 12-24 inches apart.
  • Keep plants deadheaded to promote blooming.

PESTS/SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS

A generally disease-free plant.

  • Be sure to keep echinacea free of powdery mildew and rots by not overcrowding plants.
  • Poor air circulation and very poorly drained soil can lead to fungal issues for the plants.

How to Save Seeds

  • Allow the flowerhead containing the seeds to completely mature and dry on the plant, then clip off the flowerhead and place in a container.
  • Working over the top of another clean, opened container, rub the flowerheads between the palms, breaking them apart.
  • The small, blackish seeds can be separated from the chaff by first screening and then winnowing.

FAQ

How big do Mellow Yellows plants get?

They stay compact at just 24 inches tall, which makes them a good fit for containers or the front of a border. Space plants 8 to 10 inches apart.

Is Mellow Yellows fussy to grow?

Not at all. It is drought tolerant and not picky about soil, which is unusual in this group, though it still flowers best in full sun. Keep plants deadheaded to promote blooming.

Will Mellow Yellows draw pollinators?

Yes. Pollinators adore the nectar-rich flowers, whose palette runs from brilliant yellow to rich gold. Echinacea is visited by butterflies including the swallowtail, by native bees and beneficial wasps, and by hummingbirds; goldfinches and other birds love the seeds.

Customer reviews

4 / 5 5 Reviews

What gardeners are saying

  • Soft mixed yellows: Each plant opens a slightly different shade of yellow.

  • Easy from seed: Starts indoors readily with good germination.

  • Blooms late first year: Spring-started plants first bloomed in late summer or fall.

More to grow!

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