Red coneflower varieties

Red coneflowers are hybrid selections, since the Chicago Botanic Garden notes that the ray petals of the wild species range only from pink to purple, plus yellow in Echinacea paradoxa. The garden records that an early cross of white purple coneflower and E. paradoxa produced purples, pinks, yellows, oranges, near reds and white. The table below compares every variety we list side by side.

Varieties
12
Height
1–3 ft (30–95 cm)
Hardiness
USDA zones 3–9
Form

8 Single

4 Double

Compare all 12 side by side

All 12 red coneflower varieties

A Cheyenne Spirit coneflower flower up close on the plant Cheyenne Spirit Seed-grown coneflower mix in red, orange, magenta, golden yellow and white. Early summer, Midsummer, Late summer, Fall2–2½ ft (56–76 cm)Single
A Double Scoop Cranberry coneflower flower up close on the plant Double Scoop Cranberry Double coneflower with cranberry red double pom-pom flowers, 24 to 26 inches tall, zones 4 to 9. Early summer, Midsummer, Late summer, Fall2 ft (61–66 cm)Double
A Double Scoop Orangeberry coneflower flower up close on the plant Double Scoop Orangeberry Double coneflower with orange-red double pom-pom flowers, 24 to 26 inches tall, zones 4 to 9. Early summer, Midsummer, Late summer2 ft (61–66 cm)Double
A Double Scoop Raspberry coneflower flower up close on the plant Double Scoop Raspberry Double coneflower with raspberry-rose double cushion flowers, 21 to 23 inches tall, zones 4 to 9. Midsummer, Late summer, Fall22–24 in (55–60 cm)Double
A Firebird coneflower flower up close on the plant Firebird Hybrid coneflower with scarlet red, shuttlecock-shaped flowers in midsummer. Midsummer2½–3 ft (76–95 cm)Single
A Hot Papaya coneflower flower up close on the plant Hot Papaya Double coneflower with red-orange pompom over orange rays flowers, 29 to 35 inches tall, zones 4 to 9. Midsummer, Late summer, Fall2½–3 ft (75–90 cm)Double
A Kismet Red coneflower flower up close on the plant Kismet Red Compact Kismet coneflower with large single red flowers from June to October. Early summer, Midsummer, Late summer, Fall16 in (41 cm)Single
A Lakota Fire coneflower flower up close on the plant Lakota Fire Compact coneflower with orange red and pinkish red flowers, 12 to 16 inches tall. Midsummer, Late summer, Fall12–16 in (30–41 cm)Single
A Mama Mia coneflower flower up close on the plant Mama Mia Hybrid coneflower whose petals shift through red, orange, salmon and pink. Midsummer, Late summer, Fall1½–2 ft (51–66 cm)Single
A Ruby Star coneflower flower up close on the plant Ruby Star Seed-grown purple coneflower with carmine red to purple rays, June to August. Early summer, Midsummer, Late summer2–3 ft (61–91 cm)Single
A Sombrero Salsa Red coneflower flower up close on the plant Sombrero Salsa Red Compact Sombrero coneflower with overlapping orange-red petals and an orange-brown cone. Early summer, Midsummer, Late summer2 ft (61–66 cm)Single
A Tomato Soup coneflower flower up close on the plant Tomato Soup Single coneflower with tomato-red single flowers, 27 to 31 inches tall, zones 4 to 9. Midsummer, Late summer, Fall2½ ft (70–80 cm)Single

How to choose

  1. Check the Color column and expect some change as flowers age. The Chicago Botanic Garden found that most faded colors in its trial were still pleasing, with orange flowers aging toward salmon or softer orange.

  2. Compare the Hardiness column with your zone. The Chicago Botanic Garden says hybrid cultivars are commonly rated for USDA zones 4 to 9.

  3. Compare the Height column to place each plant in a border.

Compare side by side

Color Sunlight
Cheyenne Spirit Single 2–2½ ft (56–76 cm) 4–9 Early summer, Midsummer, Late summer, Fall Full sun, Part shade
Double Scoop Cranberry Double 2 ft (61–66 cm) 4–9 Early summer, Midsummer, Late summer, Fall Full sun, Part sun
Double Scoop Orangeberry Double 2 ft (61–66 cm) 4–9 Early summer, Midsummer, Late summer Full sun, Part sun
Double Scoop Raspberry Double 22–24 in (55–60 cm) 4–9 Midsummer, Late summer, Fall Full sun
Firebird Single 2½–3 ft (76–95 cm) 4–9 Midsummer Full sun
Hot Papaya Double 2½–3 ft (75–90 cm) 4–9 Midsummer, Late summer, Fall Full sun
Kismet Red Single 16 in (41 cm) 4–9 Early summer, Midsummer, Late summer, Fall Full sun
Lakota Fire Single 12–16 in (30–41 cm) 4–9 (estimated) Midsummer, Late summer, Fall Full sun
Mama Mia Single 1½–2 ft (51–66 cm) 4–9 Midsummer, Late summer, Fall Full sun
Ruby Star Single 2–3 ft (61–91 cm) 3–8 Early summer, Midsummer, Late summer Full sun, Part shade
Sombrero Salsa Red Single 2 ft (61–66 cm) 4–9 Early summer, Midsummer, Late summer Full sun, Part shade
Tomato Soup Single 2½ ft (70–80 cm) 4–9 Midsummer, Late summer, Fall Full sun

Values marked like this (estimated) are estimates.

Frequently asked questions

Do red coneflower hybrids come back every year?

Results vary by cultivar. In the Chicago Botanic Garden trial of 52 coneflowers from 2019 to 2023, 14 kept all five plants alive to the end and 11 kept four of five. The garden notes it is unclear whether the short-lived nature of purple coneflower has been inherited by the clonal hybrids.

Related