Echinacea 'Magnus'

Echinacea 'Magnus': A Bold Revival of a Native Classic

Strong, stately, and strikingly vivid, Echinacea 'Magnus' is a garden icon that blends native charm with refined ornamental appeal. Its large, rose-purple petals are broader and held more horizontally than the species, giving each bloom a full, open appearance around a prominent coppery cone. Blooming from midsummer well into autumn, this award-winning selection offers sturdy stems, impressive flower size, and reliable performance—making it a perennial favourite in pollinator gardens, cottage borders, and naturalistic plantings.

Plant Characteristics:

• Height: 90–100 cm
• Spread: 45–60 cm, forming a strong, upright clump
• Flower Colour: Deep rose-pink petals with an orange-bronze cone
• Flowering Period: Midsummer to early autumn
• Foliage: Dark green, lance-shaped leaves with a coarse texture
• Sunlight Requirements: Full sun
• Soil Requirements: Average to dry, well-drained soil; tolerant of drought once established

Uses and Benefits: Magnus is ideal for adding long-season bloom, upright structure, and pollinator value to sunny garden beds. Its strong stems make it perfect for fresh or dried arrangements, while its nectar-rich flowers support bees and butterflies throughout the summer. With a natural look and cultivated vigour, it bridges the gap between native prairie and ornamental border.

Companion Plants: Pair Echinacea 'Magnus' with Rudbeckia 'Goldsturm', whose golden-yellow blooms and similar habit echo the prairie spirit while creating a classic summer colour duo. Add Calamagrostis 'Karl Foerster', a vertical ornamental grass that offers soft movement and a neutral foil for the coneflower’s vivid blooms. Round out the composition with Salvia 'May Night', whose rich violet-blue flower spikes provide bold contrast and early-to-midseason bloom overlap.

Care Instructions: Plant in full sun and well-drained soil. Water regularly during the first season; afterward, Magnus is drought-tolerant and low-maintenance. Deadhead to encourage additional blooms or leave seed heads for birds and winter texture. Divide every 3–4 years in spring or autumn to maintain clump health and spacing.

History: Selected in Sweden by breeder Magnus Nilsson in the 1980s, Echinacea 'Magnus' was introduced for its larger, more horizontal petals and improved garden presence. It was awarded the prestigious Perennial Plant of the Year in 1998 and remains one of the most beloved cultivars of Echinacea purpurea—combining native resilience with ornamental refinement.

Final Thoughts: Vibrant, dependable, and full of life, Echinacea 'Magnus' is a signature summer bloomer that delivers beauty with ecological purpose. When planted alongside the sunny blooms of Rudbeckia 'Goldsturm', the vertical grace of Calamagrostis 'Karl Foerster', and the deep tones of Salvia 'May Night', it creates a richly textured, pollinator-friendly landscape that echoes the rhythms of the prairie. A perennial essential for gardens that thrive in sun and celebrate bold simplicity.