I think it is fun to have some of the new hybrid plants, but I hope people remember the negatives of plants like this too. All the beautiful creatures of our world are running out of habitat due to us people bulldozing their natural areas and putting in cookie cutter complexes with large expanses of lawns and usually sterile trees and plants to keep maintenance low. I personally love watching the gold finches fluttering about my yard eating the seeds off my many native plants. I also love seeing numerous butterflies and bees working all the flowers. If we want to keep these beauties around we all have to pitch in and make parts of our yards for them because sadly some day that will probably be the only areas left for them. I personally am going to stick with my seed grown plants for the sake of wildlife. If I want those colors I could always add in some Gaillardia.

Well said, Meredith.

Meredith,
You have some very valid points and I too am not sure about some of the new plants coming out. You sure do paint a bleak picture of our environment although much of it may be true or not. Many things contribute to the decline of bees and birds. We could get in a debate about many of your concerns. However, my intention in writing this article was not to start a debate on environmental issues just showing a new plant on the market. All of this is my own time consuming observations and pictures.
I did say will we love it or not so I guess your vote is a not. Yes, it does look like a Gaillardia as do the other flowers in the asteraceace family with over 20,000 species within that family.

Springcolor, where did you find this plant? I have not seen it anywhere! I would love to try it here where weather is so variable and extreme.

springcolor said:Meredith,
You have some very valid points and I too am not sure about some of the new plants coming out. You sure do paint a bleak picture of our environment although much of it may be true or not. Many things contribute to the decline of bees and birds. We could get in a debate about many of your concerns. However, my intention in writing this article was not to start a debate on environmental issues just showing a new plant on the market. All of this is my own time consuming observations and pictures.
I did say will we love it or not so I guess your vote is a not. Yes, it does look like a Gaillardia as do the other flowers in the asteraceace family with over 20,000 species within that family.

Well I'm not a huge fan of the colors so yes I guess my vote is a no. I am not saying anyone shouldn't have plants like this, or that it's the reason for bee decline. I honestly think the use of insecticides, herbicides and GMOs are the biggest problem for our bees and butterflies and even birds, but like you I don't want to start a debate. Just hoping to plant the seed into peoples minds that haven't weighed the benefits of having plants that benefit wildlife, and that it benefits the wildlife if the sterile hybrids aren't the bulk of our gardens. I think hybrids are great specifically in a case where the seeding could be excessive like with say Rose of Sharon. I've always wanted one but I am worried I will have a million seedlings to contend with. In that case a sterile hybrid would be awesome. Or another one is sterile butterfly bushes, so people that live in areas where they are invasive can still have them. In this case replacing Coneflowers and Rubeckias, that is kind of a big deal for birds since they love the coneflower seeds.

I notice you are in Washington State, I'm sure you have much more undisturbed areas than we do here in the crowded northeast. In the last 10 years I've lived in my town, I've watched acres upon acres being cleared to put up shopping centers with huge parking lots or large housing complexes that have barely any plants aside from grass. Meanwhile I see signs like 38+ acres available all over the place. When all this land us sold I am afraid of what my town will be like. A lot of these areas I used to drive by and admire how they were like large meadows full of different plants and milkweeds. I also notice people send in thumbs down comments to newspapers saying that the town leaving highway medians un-mowed is awful and how it should be kept mowed. I believe the opposite. I was upset when I saw them mowing down all the milkweeds and other wildflowers. I haven't had a northward bound Monarch in my Monarch weigh station in 2 years! If we keep everything neat and mowed how will wildlife continue to survive, if all we allow to grow are sterile trees and mowed lawns. I'm sorry to be a downer, I just like to get people thinking about issues I find important. Hope they will find them important too.

Cindi, I bought mine at a local nursery. One member bought one at Home Depot but that was in New Jersey.

Meredith, You obviously feel very strongly about the environment so you might think of doing an article about that very issue. ATP loves articles and it would certainly be an interesting read. I don't believe this would ever replace Rubeckias or echies just simply another choice, or like you said if you find them invasive. I have tried over the years to grow a perennial Rebeckia but have not succeed so I'm happy to give this plant a try. Like other new plants I have tried over the years some are fabulous and soon become favorites while others don't thrive or perform well. This is a new plant so it will be interesting to see how it does in our wet winters. Only time will tell if this will be a winner.

Thanks Cindi! That is a good idea but I am such a scatter brain. I don't know how well I'd do. I find my thoughts jump around so much, it would be all over the place! I have a hard time with Rudbeckia as well. They did okay at first, after I had brought in composted loam to start my garden. Then I noticed I was having serious issues with leaf spot. They mostly died out but I do have one plant hanging on and blooming now. There is some state owned land behind my house that has a lot of natural growth. I found a large area filled with some type of Black Eyed Susans. I think they are the biennial type, not the fulgida 'Goldsturm' type that I tried growing already. I keep thinking about gathering a few seeds and trying those out since they seem to fare well all by themselves in the native soil around here. Then I get worried they will take over my yard and put it on the back burner. Hence when a sterile plant can be a good thing! You did an awesome job writing this piece by the way!

Meredith, that was Springcolor, Aka Julia, who wrote the article and made the suggestion that you write one too.
I think there is a forum here of really well informed people who discuss environmental issues. I know there is a lot written about native plantings.
Springcolor, I had another thought. You found a new plant and did a great job introducing it to the rest of us. I am one of those plant geeks that start salivating at the thought of truly new plants. It would be cool to have a whole thread or forum for discussion of new plants on the market. Or, is there already such a thing here? If there is, point me towards it!
I wish our local nurseries were as well supplied as yours! I think Washington state and New Jersey have many more gardeners than we have out here. I'm always finding cool new plants when I travel. What bugs me is, this echibeckia sounds absolutely perfect for our hot dry climate! Our nurseries need to get with it!
(And you can bet I will be informing a few of my favorites about this must-have plant)

Ooops my bad.

I picked one up at my local Lowes, and it was on the clearance table for only $3. I've gotten a lot of real nice plants for cheap this year off their clearance tables.

That's a deal!