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Mexican Hat
Ratibida columnifera
Pronunciation: ra-ti-BI-da co-lum-NI-fera
SKU #06971
LIGHT:
Full sun, Partial sun
WATER:
Water when top 2 inches of soil is dry.
SIZE:
Upright habit; quickly reaches 24 to 30 in. tall, 12 in. wide.
Retailers Near You
No Retailers found within 100 miles of your zipcode
| Description | A colorful addition to natural looking, easy-care borders. The drooping, deep red, gold-trimmed petals and columnar center have the effect of a Mexican sombrero. A native to the Midwestern United States, perfectly at home in dry land prairie meadows, and native gardens. An herbaceous perennial. |
|---|---|
| Bloom Time | Summer |
| Deciduous/Evergreen | Herbaceous |
| Special Features | Easy Care, Waterwise, North American Native, Fast Growing, Benefits Birds |
| Problems/Solutions | Deer Resistant, Rabbit Resistant |
| Growth Rate | Fast |
| Growth Habit | Upright |
| Flower Attributes | Flowers for Cutting, Showy Flowers |
| Landscape Use | Border |
| Design Ideas | A super addition to the perennial border. Spot into sunny mixed plantings for fiery color. A perfect choice for the native and wild garden, particularly in the dryland prairie meadow. Integrates very well with southwestern natives and xeriscape gardens. A nectar source for wildlife and butterfly gardens. |
| Flower Color | Yellow |
| Foliage Color | Green |
| Foliage Fall Color | Green |
| Companion Plants | Scotch Broom (Cytisus); Yarrow (Achillea); Coneflower (Echinacea); Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium); Russian Sage (Perovskia) |
| Care Instructions | Grows easily in average to lean, well-drained soils. Avoid heavy, wet clay. Shelter from harsh afternoon sun in hottest regions. Water deeply, regularly during the first growing season to establish an extensive root system. Once established, reduce frequency; tolerates moderate drought. Fertilize before new spring growth. |
| History | This native of the Midwestern prairie grassland tends to occur in the drier part of the range. This flower is a member of the Composite family which is the largest, containing 900 genera and 10,000 different species. This genus classified first as Lepachys by Constantino Rafinesque-Schmaltz 1784-1842, professor of natural history in Lexington, Kentucky. It was he who later reclassified the plant into genus Ratibida, but why he chose the odd name remains unknown. This plant is often confused with the similar genus Rudbeckia and was for a time classified among them. Its current species was given by Elmer Wooton of Arlington, Virginia and his associate Paul Standley of the Chicago Natural History Museum. The name describing the central seed cone of the flower that elongates as it matures. |
| Lore | Native Americans created a medicinal tea of this plant's stems and leaves to relieve skin pain and snakebites. |
Details
| Description | A colorful addition to natural looking, easy-care borders. The drooping, deep red, gold-trimmed petals and columnar center have the effect of a Mexican sombrero. A native to the Midwestern United States, perfectly at home in dry land prairie meadows, and native gardens. An herbaceous perennial. |
|---|---|
| Bloom Time | Summer |
| Deciduous/Evergreen | Herbaceous |
| Special Features | Easy Care, Waterwise, North American Native, Fast Growing, Benefits Birds |
| Problems/Solutions | Deer Resistant, Rabbit Resistant |
| Growth Rate | Fast |
| Growth Habit | Upright |
| Flower Attributes | Flowers for Cutting, Showy Flowers |
Style
| Landscape Use | Border |
|---|---|
| Design Ideas | A super addition to the perennial border. Spot into sunny mixed plantings for fiery color. A perfect choice for the native and wild garden, particularly in the dryland prairie meadow. Integrates very well with southwestern natives and xeriscape gardens. A nectar source for wildlife and butterfly gardens. |
| Flower Color | Yellow |
| Foliage Color | Green |
| Foliage Fall Color | Green |
| Companion Plants | Scotch Broom (Cytisus); Yarrow (Achillea); Coneflower (Echinacea); Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium); Russian Sage (Perovskia) |
Care
| Care Instructions | Grows easily in average to lean, well-drained soils. Avoid heavy, wet clay. Shelter from harsh afternoon sun in hottest regions. Water deeply, regularly during the first growing season to establish an extensive root system. Once established, reduce frequency; tolerates moderate drought. Fertilize before new spring growth. |
|---|
History
| History | This native of the Midwestern prairie grassland tends to occur in the drier part of the range. This flower is a member of the Composite family which is the largest, containing 900 genera and 10,000 different species. This genus classified first as Lepachys by Constantino Rafinesque-Schmaltz 1784-1842, professor of natural history in Lexington, Kentucky. It was he who later reclassified the plant into genus Ratibida, but why he chose the odd name remains unknown. This plant is often confused with the similar genus Rudbeckia and was for a time classified among them. Its current species was given by Elmer Wooton of Arlington, Virginia and his associate Paul Standley of the Chicago Natural History Museum. The name describing the central seed cone of the flower that elongates as it matures. |
|---|---|
| Lore | Native Americans created a medicinal tea of this plant's stems and leaves to relieve skin pain and snakebites. |
Retailers Near You
No Retailers found within 100 miles of your zipcode
About Us
We have been pioneers and craftsmen in the art of growing plants for 100 years. Since our founding in Southern California by Harry E. Rosedale, Sr. in 1926, we have been absolutely dedicated and obsessed with quality.
We have been pioneers and craftsmen in the art of growing plants for nearly 100 years. Since our founding in Southern California by Harry E. Rosedale, Sr. in 1926, we have been absolutely dedicated and obsessed with quality.