Exhibit A might well be a deciduous perennial hailing from the American prairies south to Mexico and going by the curious common name of Mexican hat. One look at the two-toned flowers on Ratibida columnifera ‘Pulcherrima’ and you may think, hey, isn’t that a coneflower? You would be largely right, as this species has been previously classified as Rudbeckia columnifera.

The first thing you notice, however, is the pronounced columnar centers of brown disk florets. They can reach a full inch and a half in height and provide the dome part of the “sombrero.” As with certain coneflowers, this species of ratibida has large, down-turned petals (numbering four to 11) ringing the center, fashioning a colorful brim. While R. columnifera has vibrant yellow daisy-like flowers, the pulcherrima variety is an eye-catching reddish-brown, with that same yellow as a border.

The colorful flowers look especially whimsical floating at the tips of long, thin branching stems. Given a little water, it forms a dense 2- to 3-foot-high and wide plant, thick with pinnate grayish green leaves whose leaflets are usually linear and often pinnatifid.

Mexican Hats, or prairie coneflowers as they are also known as, can be used in a variety of garden beds. They look great massed in a wildflower meadow, add delicate foliage and reds to a perennial border and are drought tolerant enough for a dry garden.

They’d be a perfect addition to a children’s garden and would make themselves at home in a natives plot. Butterflies love them, and I’ve spotted my ginger-colored dragonfly perched on one of the center domes.

All in the family

The Asteraceae family includes plants with flower heads made of many florets. Examples include aster, daisy, dandelion, goldenrod, marigold, sunflower, thistle and zinnia. Two other plants in this family have the common name of coneflower – Echinacea purpurea and Rudbeckias fulgida (black-eyed Susan) and hirta (gloriosa daisy). The columnar cones and fine-textured foliage of Ratibida columnifera distinguish it from other coneflowers.

Cultivation

Grow in full sun in poor to average, well-drained soils. This perennial will die back in colder climates, perhaps even act as an annual, but absent a freeze it can often remain an evergreen, long-blooming perennial, as it has in my Oakland garden. In fact, my specimen is a tireless performer that I have to keep pruning to keep it from outgrowing its narrow bed. Easy to grow from seed, and they make excellent cut flowers. USDA zones 3-10.

Pests & diseases

Occasionally afflicted by rust and powdery mildew, but generally this American native is a tough, resilient plant.

Availability

Start looking for ratibidas in your local nursery beginning in August. R. columnifera ‘Pulcherrima’ can be found at Annie’s Annuals & Perennials (anniesannuals.com). Seeds can be ordered from stylefeeder.com.

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