Overview

Echinacea purpurea 'Robert Bloom' is a perennial herbaceous in the genus Echinacea, part of the Asteraceae family. It typically grows around 1.2 m tall and 0.5 m wide. Echinacea purpurea 'Robert Bloom' grows best in full sun, and tolerates sandy and loamy soils. Its UK hardiness is rated H7. Suggested uses include borders, cut flowers and pollinator garden. It is native to Illinois, Tennessee, Alabama, Connecticut, Louisiana, Maryland, Ohio and Virginia.

About

Echinacea purpurea 'Robert Bloom' is a perennial herbaceous member of the Asteraceae that produces prominent purple, cone-shaped flowerheads. It reaches about 1.2 m tall with a 0.5 m spread and flowers from July to October. It performs best in full sun on sandy or loamy, well-drained soil that remains moist but not waterlogged. Fully hardy (H7) in the UK, it suits back-of-border positions and cutting beds.

Wikipedia contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0 — Echinacea purpurea

About the genus

Echinacea is a genus of herbaceous flowering plants in the daisy family. It has ten species, which are commonly called coneflowers. They are native only in eastern and central North America, where they grow in wet to dry prairies and open wooded areas.

Wikipedia contributors, "Echinacea", CC BY-SA 4.0 — Echinacea

In the garden

Echinacea purpurea 'Robert Bloom' originates from eastern North America and is a cultivated form of the purple coneflower within the Asteraceae. In garden terms it grows to around 1.2 m and forms clumps roughly 0.5 m across. Its season of interest runs from July to October, when the purple capitula are most conspicuous. Plant into a sunny site on sandy or loamy ground that drains freely yet retains some moisture; avoid heavy, waterlogged soils. As a fully hardy perennial (H7) in the UK — and suitable across USDA zones 3–10 — it tolerates our winters without special protection. Allow roughly 0.5 m between plants to give each clump room to mature and to aid air movement around the stems. Use this cultivar at the back of mixed borders, in a dedicated pollinator bed, or as a source of cut flowers. Its height provides structure behind lower perennials and grasses, while individual stems work well in arrangements when cut. Positioning in full sun will maximise flowering from July to October and help maintain a compact habit.

Growing conditions

Best soil and position for Echinacea

Sunlight

Full sun

Soil type

Sandy, Loamy

Soil moisture

Well-drained, Moist but well-drained

Exposure

Full sun

UK hardiness

H7

Plant details

Echinacea purpurea 'Robert Bloom' size, habit and characteristics

Plant type

Perennial herbaceous

Height

1.2 m

Spread

0.5 m

Suggested uses

Borders, Cut flowers, Pollinator garden

Native to

Illinois, Tennessee, Alabama, Connecticut, Louisiana, Maryland, Ohio, Virginia

Care notes

Pruning and caring for Echinacea purpurea 'Robert Bloom'

Cultivation

Prefers well-drained soil; drought tolerant once established; deadhead to prolong flowering

Pruning

Remove spent flowers to encourage reblooming; cut back in late fall or early spring

Propagation

Seed, Division

Frequently asked questions

More in the Echinacea genus

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  Echinacea 'Bright Star'Coneflower
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  Echinacea purp. 'Green Jewel'
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  Echinacea purp. 'Magnus Superior'Coneflower
• 
  Echinacea purp. 'Magnus'Coneflower
• 
  Echinacea purp. 'Primadonna Deep Pink'Coneflower
• 
  Echinacea purpurea dark-stemmedPurple Coneflower