Way back when it was first heavily marketed, I had trouble with 'Magnus" where I used to live, it seemed to revert to the soft dusky barely visible mauve, then vanished forever. It was a very sandy spot, not watered much. Or maybe this was a seedling and the original was not perennial. I tried again in new home, also sandy, same result. Years later, I tried several of the fancy colorful new varieties (I don't recall which ones) but they did not return. This was on clay.
Now I have clay, but improved with about 6" of purchased planting mix on a slight slope where water never puddles. I tried some more, 3 years ago.

I planted one Echinacea 'PowWow White', which did not return.
Two E. purpurea 'Happy Star', another white variety, do return but are basically a white daisy, they are just starting to bloom now. Trouble free.
Lots of Echinacea 'White Swan'. Also just a white daisy. Only three of these have perennialized, they will bloom soon. Trouble free.

What Echinacea have you found to be hardy perennials here in the PNW?
What conditions do they prefer?
What conditions do they dislike?
Springcolor planted several of the new varieties several years ago- are any of them ones you might recommend?

I also wonder about its hardiness. I have tried to grow Echinacea and had no luck. One lasted two summers then disappeared. Never thrived.

I have had some issues with this for sure. I will expand on this later tonight. I have had the exact some experience as Pistil but i do have names of cultivars that have survived for many years..

Mine are self sown noids so not named varieties and just the common color. The soil where they have volunteered is between or at the edges the brick pathway or patio. All areas are very sunny...as in all day sun. The soil is sandy and receives limited watering. Echinacea plants usually stick around for a few years (3-4) and I have limited number of volunteers.

Finally have a moment before the day starts. With all this sun was hard getting any great pictures. I hate to admit this but have dropped some serious cash on these plants over the years. This is what I learned and what seems to work for me. I don't buy plugs any more because they die, only buy gallon size with as much base growth as possible and plant early, never in the fall. Soil must be free draining, mine is an old rose bed that has a rockery on one side, very free draining soil. Also, here in the northwest the site must have all day sun. I don't fertilize either. These are the varieties that have been with me for 4 or 5 years but seem to still loose some for unknown reasons..
Marmalade, needs support


Summer Sun


Hot lava or Flame Thrower


Irresistible


Virgin


Pow Wow Wild Berry


Hot Papaya, Have killed this one 2 times but love the color on this one

Cleopatra

I have a few others in the same bed but no tags. I think what does these plants in are the rains we get in the early spring. Also the slugs love these plants when they emerge. I'm no exert but have made plenty of mistakes with these plants. I also have Echies down at the rental house planted in a west facing bed under and eve and they do well. Most of these plants are from seeds I saved off my named varieties but they all turned out pink. They is also some good information on cubits. I will get the link.
http://cubits.org/echinaceas/

I only grow the common pinky purple one and it is struggling this year. I do love it and will replace if it doesn't make it.

I have a few that have lasted the past 4 years or better.Mine are all grown in containers. I've learned to winter them under my porch. I water everything under it once a month during the winter. And I don't put them out until we get dryer weather. I'll have to go out later to get their names. But off the top of my head, white swan has been growing here probably 8 years or more. I do think it's our wet winters and spring that are killing them.

I will be interested to know what cultivars have been successful for you. Thank you for the 's Joy.

You are welcome Julia. I found your post to be most helpful. Thank you.

I didn't state that very well. I winter mine on my covered porch, not under my porch.

Here's what has lasted now at least 4 years.
Secret Lust
Secret Romance
Amazing Dream
Green Eyes

I got PowWow Wild Berry and Sombrero Lemon Yellow last year, and so far, so good. Except Sombrero Lemon Yellow gets weird blooms all the time. Some of the petals will be longer on one side then on the other. I'll have to take a pic to show you what I mean.
I'm thinking they should have tried correcting this through their breeding before releasing it? Or maybe I just got an odd plant? Any viruses that cause this sort of thing?

I got Julia and Virgin this year because I had heard they last longer than some others, so we'll see? Pictures of Virgin knocked me off my feet!

I had no luck with any of the Secret series but they were plugs. Best to buy the gallon size for me. I would love to see the bloom on the Sombrero that is odd. Never grown any of Sombrero Echies so no experience. You might find an answer over on the cubits site.
I would love to try this one.

Oh yes!!! Love that one too. Will try to remember to take the photo tomorrow. It really looks odd. I'll try Cubits. Thanks

Yes our Clint Brown and NJBob are very knowledgeable about these plants which would be helpful with some issues but not much help with growing in PNW.

Here's a couple photos of the odd blooms on Sombrero Lemon Yellow.

Just guessing here but maybe mites? Can you see any bugs with a magnifying glass?

No. No pests. It's grown this way sense I got it. It seems to be a healthy plant. It's blooms just don't form correctly.

Very strange.

I bought the plant from the clearance section of Lowes garden center last year. It didn't have any blooms when I bought it. I see now, why it was marked down. If it were a cool looking oddity, that would be one thing, but this doesn't even look good. I think I'll compost it sense it hasn't improved.

Don't compost maybe move to the outskirts of the yard. Such a great yellow. Looking from afar may be the ticket for this guy.

Ok. You convinced me. I'll try it.

A few more pictures. These had names but lost the tags.