Panama Red Coneflower
Panama Red Coneflower
Plush Double Red Pompoms on a Compact Coneflower
Panama Red Coneflower (Echinacea 'Panama Red') covers a tidy, compact, well-branched plant with full, double red pompom blooms. Flowering from midsummer into fall, the fluffy, long-lasting flowers add bold color and texture to the border and draw bees and butterflies, with seed heads for goldfinches in autumn. Drought-tough and deer-resistant, it's a rich, full-flowered choice for sunny borders and containers in Edina, Eagan, and Maple Grove.
Panama Red Plant Details
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Botanical Name | Echinacea 'Panama Red' |
| Mature Size | 16–20 in. tall, 16–20 in. wide |
| Hardiness Zone | 4–9 (Twin Cities is zone 4b–5a — fully hardy) |
| Light | Full sun (6+ hours) |
| Bloom Time | Midsummer into fall |
| Flower Color | Double red pompoms |
| Soil | Well-drained; tolerates clay and lean soil if not soggy |
| Winter Hardiness | Reliable to about -25°F once established |
| Deer Resistance | Usually avoided by deer; may nibble young plants |
Landscape Uses in Minnesota
Compact pollinator borders: The double red pompoms add bold texture in a small footprint. Space 16–18 inches apart.
Cut-flower and sunny beds: Long-lasting blooms are great for bouquets; tough in hot, dry spots. Pair with catmint, grasses, and single coneflowers.
Best Time to Plant in Minnesota
Plant in spring (late April–May) or early fall. Provide good drainage; avoid soggy winter soil.
How to Plant Panama Red Coneflower
Dig a hole twice the pot's width at the same depth, amending heavy clay with compost. Set the crown level, backfill, water in, and mulch lightly, keeping mulch off the crown. Space 16–18 inches apart.
Watering Panama Red Coneflower
First year: Water every 2–3 days at first, then weekly. Stop 2–3 weeks before the ground freezes.
After year one: Drought-tolerant — water only during extended dry spells.
Q: Do double coneflowers still feed pollinators?
Yes — bees and butterflies visit them, though single types offer easier access; mixing both supports pollinators best.
Q: Will it survive a Minnesota winter?
Yes — hardy to zone 4 with good drainage; leave stems up for winter crown protection.
Q: Is it deer-resistant?
Generally yes — deer usually avoid coneflowers, though young growth may be sampled.
Q: How big does it get?
A compact 16 to 20 inches — great for the front of the border and containers.
You May Also Like
Panama Rose Coneflower (Echinacea): The rose double from the same series.
Catmint (Nepeta): Blue spikes to contrast the red pompoms.
Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium): A native grass for a prairie-style border.
How Many Panama Red Coneflower Do I Need?
| Bed run | Plants needed |
|---|---|
| 5 ft | 4 |
| 10 ft | 8 |
| 15 ft | 11 |
| 20 ft | 15 |
This is a compact coneflower at 16–20 in. wide, so space plants about 17 in. apart, or plant in groups of 3–5 about 17 in. apart for a bold block of double red in a sunny border.
Panama Red Coneflower Season-by-Season in Minnesota
- Spring: A tidy, well-branched mound of dark green foliage establishes.
- Summer: Full, double red pompom blooms cover the compact plant from midsummer, long-lasting and visited by bees and butterflies.
- Fall: Flowering carries on into fall as the earliest cones mature into seed heads.
- Winter: Leave the stems standing — they protect the crown and add structure above the snow.
At a Glance
✔ Pollinator-Friendly ✔ Deer-Resistant ✔ Drought-Tolerant ✔ Four-Season Interest
Plant It With
- Panama Rose Coneflower — the rose-double sibling from the same series for a coordinated double-flowered drift.
- Magnus Coneflower — a single purple coneflower whose open centers give pollinators easier access nearby.
- Little Bluestem — a native grass that frames the bold pompoms in a prairie-style border.
- Blue Fortune Hyssop — lavender-blue spikes cool the red and keep the bees busy.
Is Panama Red Coneflower Right for Your Yard?
Panama Red wants full sun (6+ hours) and well-drained soil — it tolerates clay and lean ground as long as it isn't soggy, and it's drought-tough and deer-resistant once established. Not a fit for shade (it flops and blooms poorly) or wet winter soil (the crown rots); good drainage is the key to overwintering.