BIG SKY™ 'After Midnight' Coneflower

BIG SKY™ ‘After Midnight’ is the compact coneflower sold under the cultivar name ‘Emily Saul’. Dark magenta petals surround a near-black red cone on sturdy stems, creating strong contrast above green foliage. [Ball Seed](https://info.ballseed.com/PlantInfo?phid=024104396018621) gives a typical height of 15–18 inches and width of about 12 inches; [Itsaul Plants](https://www.itsaulplants.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=conecrazy.main) confirms the dark flower color and butterfly appeal. ## Garden use Plant it near the front of a sunny border or in a patio container where its compact form and dark flowers can be seen up close. Its flowers can also be cut for arrangements, and bees and butterflies may visit while it is in bloom. ## Growing conditions Choose sun and well-drained soil. This established selection tolerates dry conditions and heat, but newly planted coneflowers need regular water while roots develop. The recorded 0.4-meter height is retained; the height label is aligned to the breeder’s 15–18-inch range. ## Maintenance Remove spent flowers when you want to keep the plant tidy or encourage additional bloom. Divide crowded clumps when needed, and leave some seed heads standing if you want winter structure.