Product Field NotesCompanion Plants
Watermelon Sugar Coneflower: Double Pink Pompoms Beside Lavender
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Watermelon Sugar coneflower is a fully double echinacea with 4½-inch pompom blooms. Each one has a dense, rounded crested center ringed with wide, overlapping petals that open bright magenta pink and soften to medium pink as they age, so the plant always shows two tones at once.
The flowers sit close over a large rosette of dark green leaves with very little bare stem showing, and strong stems hold the heavy heads without staking.
Watermelon Sugar at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Echinacea 'Watermelon Sugar' |
| Flowers | Fully double pompoms, magenta pink aging to medium pink |
| Foliage | Dark green, lance-shaped rosette |
| Size | 22 to 26 inches tall, 20 to 24 inches wide |
| Bloom | Starts early July, peaks late July, long blooming |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 4 to 8 |
| Light | Full sun to light part shade |
| Wildlife | Good for pollinators; deer resistant |
Pink pompoms with purple spikes
Watermelon Sugar's warm rosy pink softens lavender's cooler purple, and its round, fluffy flowers contrast nicely with lavender's slender spikes. Both like full sun and well-drained soil, and once established both handle dry spells with little extra water, so they can share a bed without compromise.
At about 2 feet tall and wide, it has real presence in the middle of a sunny border. Try it behind a row of low lavender or between taller lavender plants, keeping a little breathing room between mounds. It starts blooming in early July, overlapping the main lavender flush, and carries on into late summer. Try combinations in the Companion Plant Planner.
Getting double coneflowers through winter
Hybrid coneflowers are most often lost to wet winter soil, the same thing that ends many lavenders. A few habits make a big difference:
- Plant early: get it in the ground by late summer so roots establish before winter.
- Drain well: lean to average soil that never stays soggy.
- Leave stems: let them stand over winter.
- Go light on mulch: keep heavy mulch off the crown.
Ongoing care
Snip faded flowers back to a side bud to keep new ones coming, or leave the last flowers standing at season's end. Color is richest in moderate temperatures and can fade faster in extreme heat. Watch for aster yellows, which causes distorted, green flowers; remove any affected plant. Crowded plants in damp shade are more prone to leaf spot and mildew, so keep it in the sun.
For the vase
The blooms cut well and dry fairly well. A few pink pompoms with fresh lavender stems make a soft, summery arrangement, and the flowers carry a faint, honey-like scent. Plan a cutting row with the Cut Flower Planner.
About the plug tray
Watermelon Sugar is offered as a full 72-cell plug tray, enough for a cut flower bed or a long sunny border. See the product page for current availability.
Frequently asked questions
Why are my flowers two different pinks?
That is by design. New flowers open magenta pink and soften to medium pink as they age.
Does it need staking?
No. Its strong stems hold the heavy double flowers upright.
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