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Ratibida columnifera (Mexican Hat Plant)

Upright Prairie Coneflower, Mexican Hat, Mexican Hat Plant, Prairie Coneflower, Prairieconeflower, Redspike Mexican Hat, Column Flower, Obelisk Flower, Rudbeckia columnaris, Rudbeckia columnifera

Ratibida columnifera, Upright Prairie Coneflower, Mexican Hat, Mexican Hat Plant, Prairie Coneflower, Prairieconeflower, Redspike Mexican Hat, Column Flower, Obelisk Flower
Ratibida columnifera, Upright Prairie Coneflower, Mexican Hat, Mexican Hat Plant, Prairie Coneflower, Prairieconeflower, Redspike Mexican Hat, Column Flower, Obelisk Flower

Ratibida columnifera (Mexican Hat Plant) is an upright, clump-forming perennial boasting profuse, golden yellow or vibrant rust-red daisies with 3-7 drooping rays surrounding a long and prominent central disk – resembling a sombrero with a drooping brim. Blooming beautifully from late spring to fall, the blossoms open on slender stems with bright green, feathery, and deeply cleft leaves. Attracting butterflies, they often bloom by the thousands and provide weeks of eye-catching color. Their attractive seedheads further extend the season of interest and will be visited in the fall and winter by birds that feed on the seeds.

  • Grows up to 1-3 ft. tall (30-90 cm) and 12-18 in. wide (30-45 cm). This plant self-sows abundantly.
  • Performs best in full sun in average, dry to medium moisture, well-drained soils. Mexican Hat is a fast-growing wildflower that is not fussy about soils and is easy to grow from seed. Tolerates drought, light shade and poor soils.
  • Easy to grow, pest and disease-free, low care.
  • Great for sunny borders, prairies or meadows, and cottage gardens. Best massed!
  • Native to North America

Requirements

Hardiness 4 - 9
Climate Zones 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, A1, A2, A3, H1, H2
Plant Type Perennials
Plant Family Compositae
Common names Mexican Hat, Prairie Coneflower
Exposure Full Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Late)
Summer (Early, Mid, Late)
Fall
Height 1' - 3'
(30cm - 90cm)
Spread 1' - 2'
(30cm - 60cm)
Spacing 18" - 24"
(50cm - 60cm)
Maintenance Low
Water Needs Low
Soil Type Loam, Sand
Soil pH Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Well-Drained
Characteristics Cut Flowers, Showy
Native Plants United States, New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Southwest, Rocky Mountains, Southeast, Midwest, Pacific Northwest, Northeast, Indiana, Missouri, Wisconsin, South Dakota, Illinois, Kansas, Ohio, North Dakota, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Iowa, Idaho, Alabama, Florida, Arkansas, Georgia, West Virginia, Louisiana, South Carolina, North Carolina, Mississippi, Tennessee, Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, Montana
Tolerance Drought, Dry Soil
Attracts Butterflies
Garden Uses Beds And Borders, Patio And Containers
Garden Styles Informal and Cottage, Prairie and Meadow
How Many Plants
Do I Need?

Recommended Companion Plants

Foeniculum vulgare ‘Rubrum’ (Bronze Fennel)
Kniphofia ‘Tawny King’ (Red Hot Poker)
Liatris spicata (Blazing Star)
Echinacea purpurea ‘Magnus’ (Coneflower)
While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.
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Requirements

Hardiness 4 - 9
Climate Zones 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, A1, A2, A3, H1, H2
Plant Type Perennials
Plant Family Compositae
Common names Mexican Hat, Prairie Coneflower
Exposure Full Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Late)
Summer (Early, Mid, Late)
Fall
Height 1' - 3'
(30cm - 90cm)
Spread 1' - 2'
(30cm - 60cm)
Spacing 18" - 24"
(50cm - 60cm)
Maintenance Low
Water Needs Low
Soil Type Loam, Sand
Soil pH Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Well-Drained
Characteristics Cut Flowers, Showy
Native Plants United States, New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Southwest, Rocky Mountains, Southeast, Midwest, Pacific Northwest, Northeast, Indiana, Missouri, Wisconsin, South Dakota, Illinois, Kansas, Ohio, North Dakota, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Iowa, Idaho, Alabama, Florida, Arkansas, Georgia, West Virginia, Louisiana, South Carolina, North Carolina, Mississippi, Tennessee, Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, Montana
Tolerance Drought, Dry Soil
Attracts Butterflies
Garden Uses Beds And Borders, Patio And Containers
Garden Styles Informal and Cottage, Prairie and Meadow
How Many Plants
Do I Need?

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