Mexican Hat Plant Seed

 

Mexican Hat produces slender stems topped with drooping red and yellow petals surrounding a tall, central cone giving the bloom its signature sombrero like appearance.

 

Flowering over a long season, it sways gracefully in the breeze and adds movement and colour to prairie style plantings, gravel gardens, and wildlife borders.

 

Also known as Upright Prairie Coneflower, this hardy perennial (often grown as an annual or biennial) thrives in full sun and poor, well drained soils.

 

It is highly attractive to bees, butterflies, and beneficial insects, and is exceptionally drought tolerant once established.

 

Seed Qty Approx. 0.5 grams

 

Sow

February to April indoors, or September to October outdoors

Germination

14 to 21 days at 18 to 22°C (cold stratification improves results)

Soil and Position

Well-drained, sandy or loamy soil in full sun. Ideal for meadows, dry borders, and pollinator gardens

Height/Spread

60 to 90 cm tall × 30 to 45 cm spread

Flowering

June to September (second year)

 

Sowing Instructions

 

Sow indoors from February to April. Surface-sow onto moist compost and press lightly — do not cover. Keep at 18 to 22°C. For improved germination, stratify seeds in the fridge for 2 to 4 weeks before sowing. Transplant seedlings when large enough to handle and harden off before planting out. Alternatively, sow outdoors in autumn for natural stratification.

 

Grow and Maintenance

 

Water during dry spells in the first year. Once established, plants are drought-tolerant and low maintenance. Deadhead to prolong flowering or allow to self seed. Suitable for naturalistic and low-input plantings.

 

Uses and Benefits

 

Distinctive sombrero-shaped blooms in red and yellow

Drought tolerant and pollinator-friendly

Ideal for prairie borders, meadows, and gravel gardens

Hardy and long flowering

Easy to grow and self seeding

 

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