Red Midget Ratibida
Ratibida columnifera 'Red Midget'
Plant Sentry™
Plant Sentry™
Plant Sentry™ Protected
Your order is protected by our compliance system that:
- Prevents restricted plants from shipping to your state
- Ensures plants meet your state's agricultural requirements
- Protects gardens from invasive pests and diseases
Delivery and Shipping
Delivery and Shipping
Delivery and Shipping
Fast, Safe Plant Delivery
Ships in 3-4 business days • Tracking provided • Weather protected
| Under $50 | $9.99 |
| $50 - $99.99 | $14.99 |
| $100 - $149.99 | $16.99 |
| $150 - $198.99 | $24.99 |
| $199+ | FREE |
✓ Zone-specific timing • ✓ Professional packaging • ✓ Health guarantee
Understanding Plant Options
Nature Hills offers plants in two main formats:
- Container Plants: Grown in pots with soil, sized by container volume and plant age
- Bare Root Plants: Dormant plants without soil, sized by height measurements
Container Plant Sizes
Container sizes indicate plant age and growing capacity rather than liquid volume equivalents. Our containers follow industry-standard nursery "trade gallon" specifications, which differ from standard liquid gallon measurements.
Young Plants (6 months to 18 months old)
| Container Size | Actual Volume | Metric Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| 2" x 2" x 3" | 0.18 - 0.21 dry quarts | 0.20 - 0.23 dry liters |
| 4" Container | 0.31 - 0.87 dry quarts | 0.35 - 0.96 dry liters |
| 4.5" Container | 0.65 dry quarts | 0.72 dry liters |
| 6" Container | 1.4 dry quarts | 1.59 dry liters |
| 1 Quart | 1 dry quart | 1.1 dry liters |
| 5.5" Container | 1.89 dry quarts | 2.08 dry liters |
Established Plants (18 months to 2.5 years old)
| Container Size | Actual Volume | Metric Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Quart | 2 dry quarts | 2.2 dry liters |
| #1 Container | 2.26 - 3.73 dry quarts | 2.49 - 4.11 dry liters |
| 5" x 5" x 12" | 3.5 - 4.3 dry quarts | 3.85 - 4.74 dry liters |
Mature Plants (2-4 years old)
| Container Size | Actual Volume | Metric Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| #2 Container | 1.19 - 1.76 dry gallons | 5.24 - 7.75 dry liters |
| #3 Container | 2.15 - 2.76 dry gallons | 8.14 - 12.16 dry liters |
Large Plants (3-5 years old)
| Container Size | Actual Volume | Metric Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| #5 Container | 2.92 - 4.62 dry gallons | 12.86 - 20.35 dry liters |
| #6 Container | 5.25 - 6.01 dry gallons | 23.12 - 26.42 dry liters |
| #7 Container | 5.98 - 6.53 dry gallons | 26.34 - 28.76 dry liters |
Bare Root Plants
Bare root plants are sold by height from the root system to the top of the plant. Plants may exceed minimum height requirements.
Common Sizes:
- Trees: 1 foot, 2 feet, 3 feet, 4 feet, 5 feet, 6 feet
- Shrubs & Perennials: 1 foot, 18 inches, 2 feet
Important Notes
Container Volume Specifications
- Trade Gallon Standard: Our containers follow industry-standard "trade gallon" specifications established by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI Z60.1) for nursery stock
- Volume Variations: Actual soil volume may vary due to plant root systems and growing medium settlement
- Age Indicators: Container size primarily indicates plant age and maturity rather than liquid volume equivalents
Growing Conditions
- Plant size can vary based on variety and growing conditions
- Container size helps indicate plant maturity and establishment level
- Larger containers generally mean more established root systems and faster landscape establishment
Seasonal Availability
- Bare root plants are available seasonally when dormant
- Container plants are available throughout the growing season
- Specific varieties may have limited availability in certain sizes
Questions?
For questions about specific plant sizes or availability, please contact our plant experts who can help you choose the right size for your landscape needs.
Plant Sentry™ Protected
Your order is protected by our compliance system that:
- Prevents restricted plants from shipping to your state
- Ensures plants meet your state's agricultural requirements
- Protects gardens from invasive pests and diseases
Plant Profile & Growing Essentials
Cold hardy, Native, Compact/Dwarf, Low Maintenance, Flowering, Reblooming, Deer-resistant, Heat Tolerant, Drought resistant, Attracts Butterflies, Attracts pollinators, and Container Friendly
Specifications
Specifications
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Botanical Name
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Height
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Width
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Growing Zones
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Sunlight
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Growth RateFast
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Flower Color
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Leaf Color
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NativeYes
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Pollinator FriendlyYes
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Bloom PeriodEarly Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall, Late Fall
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Does Not Ship ToAK, HI, ID, MT
Planting & Care Instructions
Planting & Care Instructions
Growing Zones 3-9
Looking for a flower with personality plus pollinator appeal? Meet the Red Midget Mexican Hat (Ratibida columnifera 'Red Midget'), a perennial wildflower with fiery red petals edged in gold that dance around tall, chocolate-brown cones. Blooming from early summer through fall, this long-lived beauty is a pollinator magnet, drawing in bees, butterflies, and even hummingbirds. Compact in size yet bold in color, it adds nonstop cheer to sunny gardens.
This petite powerhouse is a naturally compact selection of the classic Mexican Hat wildflower, sometimes called Red Midget Ratibida. With its ferny, fine-textured foliage and upright branching habit, it creates a soft, airy background beneath its signature sombrero-like blooms. The plants spread slightly, filling in garden beds with effortless grace, and put on a long seasonal show with very little fuss!
Native to the prairies and meadows of North America, this plant belongs to the Aster family - cousins of Sunflowers and Coneflowers. Historically, Ratibida species were valued by Indigenous peoples for both ornamental and medicinal uses, while today they remain cherished as resilient, drought-tolerant plants perfect for naturalistic gardens.
>>Jump to Planting & Care Instructions
Key Features
- Compact perennial wildflower with sombrero-shaped blooms
- Red petals edged in yellow with tall brown centers
- Fine, airy green foliage with upright habit
- Extended bloom time from summer into fall
- Attracts pollinators and beneficial insects
- Native plant - tough and drought-tolerant
Landscaping Uses
Red Midget Mexican Hat is just the right size for sunny borders, wildflower meadows, and pollinator-friendly gardens. Growing 1-2 feet tall and 1-3 feet wide, it mixes beautifully with other perennials and native grasses.
- Prairie-style plantings with ornamental grasses
- Pollinator and butterfly gardens
- Wildflower meadows and cottage-style beds
- Naturalized areas for low-maintenance color
- Containers for sunny patios
Care & Maintenance
USDA Growing Zones 3-9 - this perennial thrives across much of the country. It is a hardy, sun-loving perennial with excellent drought tolerance once established.
- Planting Time: Best planted in spring or fall
- Sun Requirements: Full sun for best blooms
- Soil Requirements: Adaptable to most well-drained soils, including clay soil tolerant, sandy, or rocky types
- Moisture Needs: Drought-tolerant once established - use the Finger Test to check soil moisture. Water regularly the first year.
- Arborist Mulch: Apply a 3-4 inch layer of mulch to conserve water and protect roots - how and why to mulch
- Fertilization Needs: Light feeding in spring with compost or a balanced flower fertilizer
- Pruning Info: Deadheading spent blooms encourages longer flowering - learn more about deadheading
- Division Info: Not typically needed, but can be divided in spring every few years if clumps spread
- Special Perks: Heat and drought-tolerant, deer and rabbit-resistant, very low maintenance, perfect for xeric plantings and prairie gardens
Don't forget to order your Nature Hills Root Booster for lifelong mycorrhizal symbiotic root support.
A Hat Trick of Color
The Red Midget Mexican Hat delivers fiery blooms, prairie charm, and pollinator power all in one compact package. Add this charming wildflower to your landscape for color that lasts all summer into fall. Order your Red Midget Mexican Hat today from Nature Hills and enjoy bold blooms delivered right to your door!
