Paradiso Super-duper Echinacea is a stunning double-petaled purple coneflower that blooms in its first year, bringing traditional medicinal charm to gardens across zones 3 through 8. Growing to a compact 36 inches tall, this reliable perennial wears rosy tones that deepen as summer unfolds, with distinctive fully double flower heads that set it apart from single-flowered varieties. Extremely hardy and unfussy, it germinates in just 10 to 15 days under warm conditions and grows vigorously in temperatures between 65 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit, making it one of the easiest echinacea varieties to establish.
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3-8
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Moderate
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The double petals are the showstopper here, creating lush, pompom-like flower heads in charming rosy tones that feel far more ornamental than typical single-petaled coneflowers. Sprouting remarkably quickly and blooming its first season, this heirloom variety delivers instant garden gratification without sacrificing the hardiness and reliability that make echinacea a stalwart perennial. As both a striking landscape plant and exceptional cut flower, it earns its place in herb gardens, meadows, and borders where it returns year after year with minimal fuss.
Paradiso Super-duper Echinacea serves multiple roles in the garden and home. As a traditional medicinal plant, it continues a long history of herbal use. In landscape design, its striking double-petaled blooms make it exceptional as a cut flower for fresh arrangements, while its substantial height and rosy coloring bring structure and color to herb gardens, perennial borders, and naturalized wildflower meadows.
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Start seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before your last spring frost. Sow seeds on the surface or just barely press them into moist seed-starting mix at a depth of 1/8 inch. Keep the soil at 60 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit; germination occurs in 10 to 15 days. Provide bright light once seedlings emerge, and maintain consistent moisture without waterlogging. Harden off seedlings by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions over 7 to 10 days before transplanting.
Transplant seedlings outdoors after the last frost date when soil has warmed to at least 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Space plants 8 to 10 inches apart in well-draining soil. Dig a hole slightly larger than the root ball, settle the plant at the same depth it was growing in its pot, and water gently to establish good soil contact. Protect young transplants from wind and harsh sun for the first few days if possible.
Direct sow seeds in spring after the last frost date, or in fall 4 to 6 weeks before the first expected frost. Scatter seeds where you want them to grow, press them lightly into soil, and keep the area consistently moist until germination occurs in 10 to 15 days. Thin seedlings to 8 to 10 inches apart once they develop their first true leaves.
Deadhead spent flowers regularly throughout the summer and early fall to encourage continuous blooming and redirect energy toward flower production rather than seed set. In late autumn or early spring, cut back the entire plant to 2 to 3 inches above the soil surface to remove any dead foliage and make way for fresh new growth. If plants become leggy or overgrown, you can cut them back by one-third in early summer to encourage bushier, more compact growth.
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“This heirloom variety represents a lineage of echinacea cultivation that honors the plant's traditional use as a medicinal herb. Developed and preserved through careful selection for its distinctive double-petaled form, Paradiso Super-duper carries forward a gardening tradition that values both ornamental beauty and functional herbal properties, passed down through generations of seed savers and growers who recognized that the most rewarding plants often serve multiple purposes.”