Prairie Blaze™ Orange Sunset Coneflower

Prairie Blaze™ Orange Sunset is an upright, compact purple coneflower with bold orange-red rays and a pronounced central cone. This seed-raised selection combines first-year flowering and sturdy branching with a warm, high-contrast color that works well in sunny borders, mass plantings, and pollinator gardens. ## Form and flowering The [North American ThinkPlants listing](https://www.thinkplants.com/plants/p/echinacea-purpurea-prairie-blaze-orange-sunset) gives a mature range of 14–16 inches high by 6–8 inches wide and USDA zones 3–9. Syngenta describes the Prairie Blaze line as heat tolerant, pollinator friendly, and capable of flowering in the first year; [Fleuroselect’s Orange Sunset trial profile](https://fleuroselect.com/trials-and-awards/awarded-varieties/variety/prairie-blaze-orange-sunset) records orange-red flowers from July through October. Local bloom timing varies, so use the breeder’s spring-to-summer schedule as a production guide and expect garden flowering to shift with climate. ## Siting Plant in full sun or light shade in well-drained soil. Purple coneflower is heat tolerant and becomes drought tolerant after establishment, but young plants benefit from regular moisture. [Illinois Extension](https://extension.illinois.edu/flowers/purple-coneflower) recommends well-drained soil and cautions against heavy feeding, which can lead to tall stems that flop. ## Maintenance Deadhead to a nearby lateral bud or leaf to encourage more flowers, and leave a few mature cones for birds. Cut back old stems as new growth starts in spring; see [Illinois Extension’s pruning guidance](https://extension.illinois.edu/blogs/ilriverhort/2023-06-06-3-ways-prune-perennials-longer-lasting-blooms).