Red Mexican Hat

Red Mexican hat is a prairie coneflower with fine, divided foliage and distinctive flower heads held above the leaves. The red form has drooping rays around an upright central cone, often with yellow edging, and brings a long, informal flowering display to sunny, open plantings. ## Garden use Grow it in a wildflower or pollinator bed, a meadow, or the back of a sunny border, where its narrow stems can rise without hiding shorter plants. Expect flower stalks around 1–2 feet tall, with variation by site and growing conditions. Its long-blooming heads attract pollinators, and the seed heads can remain after flowering. ## Growing conditions Choose full sun and well-drained soil; it adapts to dry or moderately moist conditions and does not need rich soil. Once established, it tolerates drought, so water deeply during establishment and then only during extended dry periods. The species is native to the central and western parts of North America and is hardy in cold-winter gardens. ## Maintenance Cut back old stems in late winter or early spring if you prefer a tidier bed, or leave some seed heads standing for wildlife and winter texture. Remove seedlings where they are not wanted, since prairie coneflower can reseed in favorable sites. [Native Seeds/SEARCH’s Mexican Hat (Red) profile](https://www.nativeseeds.org/products/wf036) describes the red form and its summer flowers; [North Carolina State Extension’s plant profile](https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/ratibida-columnifera/common-name/prairie-coneflower/) covers the species’ habitat, soil, drought response, height, and garden uses.