Ruby Star Coneflower

Echinacea purpurea 'Ruby Star'

Nature Hills Nursery

Deep Carmine Red Blooms with Reddish-Bronze Cone Center Bloom Spring Through Fall
Cold Hardy: Thrives in Zones 4-9
Grows 1-2 ft Tall and Wide
Showy Purple, Red, Pink Blooms From Early Summer to Late Summer
Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Heat Tolerant

$29⁸⁰

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Plant Size

Product variants

Planting & Care

Where to Plant

Sunlight: Plant 'Ruby Star' in a spot that gets at least six hours of direct sun daily. While it can tolerate partial shade (4-6 hours), too little light will result in leggy plants and dramatically fewer, smaller blooms. Full sun is key for its strongest, most vibrant color.
Soil: This plant is adaptable, but it truly thrives in average, well-drained soil. If you have heavy clay, amend the planting area generously with compost or aged manure to improve drainage; coneflowers hate wet feet, especially in winter. For sandy soil, incorporating compost will help retain essential moisture and nutrients.

Watering Requirements

During the first season, water your newly planted coneflower weekly, giving it a deep drink until it's fully established and forming a robust root system. Once established, 'Ruby Star' is wonderfully drought-tolerant; however, inconsistent watering during a prolonged dry spell will stress the plant, leading to smaller, less colorful flowers. Aim to provide supplemental water if you see wilting, then let the soil dry out again.

Pruning Tips

Echinacea blooms on new wood, making pruning incredibly easy. The best technique is deadheading—cutting the spent flower back to a set of healthy leaves—which encourages a longer season of rebloom. In late fall or early spring, you can cut the entire plant down to about 4-6 inches. Leaving the cones through winter provides visual interest and vital food for birds, which is the "why" for delaying the full cutback.

Fertilizer Needs

Coneflowers are not heavy feeders, so a single, balanced, slow-release granular fertilizer application in early spring as new growth emerges is usually sufficient. A great option is a 10-10-10 or a continuous-release organic blend. What to avoid: Do not apply high-nitrogen fertilizers late in the growing season, as this encourages soft, weak growth that can be susceptible to fungal issues and may not harden off properly before winter.

Delivery and Shipping

Shipping Rates

Ships in 7-10 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 Our Container Sizes

At Nature Hills, our plants are sold in industry-standard nursery containers. You will notice we use the word "container" rather than "gallon." Container numbers follow a nursery trade size standard, not liquid volume. The number tells you the plant's size category and general maturity level. A larger container means a more established plant with a stronger root system.

Container Sizes

Quart

Plant age: 6 months to 1 year
Best for: Ground covers, perennials, ornamental grasses
What to expect: Our smallest and most affordable size. Well-suited for planting in multiples across a large area. Allow 1 to 2 seasons for full establishment.

#1 Container

Plant age: 1 to 2 years
Best for: Shrubs, perennials, smaller trees
What to expect: About the size of a large coffee can. A well-developed root system in a manageable size. Good value choice when you have time to let the plant grow into the space over a season or two.

#2 Container

Plant age: 2 to 3 years
Best for: Shrubs and trees where you want faster establishment
What to expect: A noticeable step up from a #1 in both plant size and root development. Good choice when you want visible presence without going to a larger size.

#3 Container

Plant age: 3 to 4 years
Best for: Most plants, most situations — flowering trees, shade trees, evergreen shrubs
What to expect: Our most popular size. Strong, developed root system. Plants in a #3 container make an immediate visual impact from day one. If you want a head start rather than waiting seasons for a plant to fill in, this is typically the right choice.

#5 Container and Larger

Plant age: 4 to 5+ years
Best for: Specimen plants, privacy screens, maximum instant impact
What to expect: Large, mature plants ready to make an immediate statement in your landscape. We also carry #7 and larger sizes for select varieties.

Why "Container" and Not "Gallon"?

Nursery container sizes follow an industry trade standard established for the nursery and horticulture industry. The number is a size designation, not a measurement of liquid volume. Actual soil volume varies by plant type, root mass, and growing medium. Using "container" is the accurate industry term. When you see #1, #2, or #3, think of it as the plant's size tier, not a gallon measurement.

Root Pouch Containers

Some Nature Hills plants arrive in a Root Pouch, a breathable fabric container made from 100% recycled materials. Root Pouches encourage denser root development through air pruning, which discourages root circling and promotes a stronger, more fibrous root ball at the time of planting.

Plants growing in Root Pouch fabric containers, showing the breathable woven fabric construction

There are two types. Knowing which one you have changes how you plant:

Degradable (brown or tan fabric): Plant the entire pouch directly in the ground. The fabric breaks down naturally in the soil over time.
Non-degradable (black or gray fabric): Remove the pouch before planting. Cut the bottom open with scissors, then peel the sides away. The fibrous root ball will hold its shape.

Not sure which type you have? Check the tag on your plant or contact us and we will confirm.

Full Root Pouch planting guide

Choosing the Right Size

Size	Plant Age	Best For
Quart	6 mo to 1 yr	Ground covers, perennials, grasses. Budget-friendly for mass plantings.
#1 Container	1 to 2 yrs	Shrubs, perennials, small trees. Value choice for patient gardeners.
#2 Container	2 to 3 yrs	Shrubs and trees where you want faster establishment.
#3 Container	3 to 4 yrs	Most plants. Immediate visual impact. Our most popular size.
#5 and larger	4+ yrs	Specimen plants, privacy screens, maximum instant impact.

Still not sure which size is right for your project? Our plant specialists are happy to help. Contact us and we will point you in the right direction.

Plant specifications
Plant Characteristics	Cold hardy, Low Maintenance, Native, Flowering, Reblooming, Deer-resistant, Clay Tolerant, Heat Tolerant, Drought resistant, Attracts Butterflies, Attracts pollinators, Container Friendly
Hardiness Zone	3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
Sunlight	Full sun
Height	1-2 ft
Width	1-2 ft
Watering Needs	Moderate
Preferred Soil	Chalky, Clay, Loamy, Peaty, Sandy
Growth Rate	Moderate
Growth Habit	Upright
Plant Life Cycle	Perennial
Blooms In	Summer
Flower Color	Purple, Red, Pink
Foliage Color	Green
Native	Yes
Suitable Space	Outdoors
Plant Name	Echinacea
Botanical Name	Echinacea purpurea 'Ruby Star'
Species	purpurea
Cultivar	Ruby Star
Class	Asterales
Does Not Ship To	AK, HI, ID, MT, PR

The Ruby Star Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea 'Ruby Star') produces large, intense carmine red, daisy-like flowers with a dark, raised, reddish-bronze pincushion-like center cone! The pinkish petals gently curve backward as the bold blooms stand tall on their reddish stems and green leaves.

These flowers grow on 40-inch tall stems from late spring through fall! Rising high above the leaves to display their bold blooms to attract plenty of bees and butterflies! Well-branched and full, these easy-to-grow perennials attract loads of pollinators to their summer through fall blossoms!

Once the chill hits the air and the flowers fade, the spikey domed centers remain through the winter to add texture to the snow, feed often visited by songbirds, Goldfinches, and other birds to feed on the seed, and add interest to dried arrangements! Hardy throughout USDA planting zones 4 to 9, these plants only spread about 2 feet wide.

Planting and Application:

This Coneflower is a hardy native cultivar and is a sun garden perennial, adding its bold hues to your garden beds and borders! Mix Ruby Star with other Perennials, is stunning with Ornamental Grasses, and mingling with sun-garden plants and shrubs. Holding their own against showier blooms like Roses and Hydrangea.

Tolerating harsh locations in the sun, handling poor soil, and periodic drought, making Ruby Star fantastic in the hell-strip along the road or sidewalk, in Rock Gardens, or in Xeric Gardens. Include them in your Fire-Wise landscaping plan! Use them as a cheerful mass planting. Space these herbaceous perennials 12 inches apart on center, measuring from the center of one to the center of the next.

Try them in large exterior containers, too. Use them as a single species, or add "Spillers" to the edges of your container to soften the look. Either as the main thriller or the vibrant part of a mixed planter on your porches and patios in the heat and sun!

Bold Reddish-Purple Domed Centers & Pink Petals
Beautiful Cutting Garden Plants
Food for Pollinators & Birds
Green Foliage - Stays Small & Compact
Sun Beds & Borders, Containers, Xeric & Fire-Wise Landscaping

#ProPlantTips for Care:

Ruby Star is a great sun-loving and drought-tolerant, and this herbaceous perennial is easy to grow in full sun and very well-drained soil. Provide regular moisture to new plants but once established, Echinacea are drought tolerant and low-water-usage plants. Mulch and regular fertilizer give them a boost.

If you've left your herbaceous perennials plantings to stand over the winter, just cut the stalks to an inch above ground level in early spring. Keep the flowers deadheaded to greatly increase the flowering. Coneflowers are almost maintenance-free, Echinacea is a native species that does well in most of the country with very little care, and these cultivars are just as tough.

Sun Gardens
Tolerates Heat, Humidity & Poor Soils
Needs Well-Drained Soil
Moderate to Low Moisture
Deadhead Spent Flowers & Prune In Spring
Heat, Humidity & Drought Tolerant

The big and bold Ruby Star Coneflower will enhance your garden with its toughness and summer blooms! Order your quality perennials today at NatureHills.com!

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Frequently Asked Questions

What USDA hardiness zones is Ruby Star Coneflower suitable for?

Ruby Star Coneflower thrives in USDA hardiness zones 4 through 9. This native cultivar handles harsh conditions well, tolerating poor soil and periodic drought. Plant it confidently in sun gardens from cold northern regions to hot southern climates.

How tall and wide does Ruby Star Coneflower grow at maturity?

Ruby Star Coneflower reaches 40 inches tall and spreads about 2 feet wide at maturity. The flowers rise high above the foliage on sturdy stems from late spring through fall in zones 4-9. Space plants 12 inches apart for best results, available at naturehills.com.

How often should I water Ruby Star Coneflower after planting?

Water Ruby Star Coneflower deeply twice weekly for the first month after planting. Once established, this drought-tolerant native requires minimal watering except during extended dry spells. Check soil moisture 2 inches down and water only when dry.

How fast does Ruby Star Coneflower grow and when will I see blooms?

Ruby Star Coneflower blooms from late spring through fall in its first growing season. These hardy perennials reach 40 inches tall and spread 2 feet wide at maturity. Plant in full sun and space 12 inches apart for best results in zones 4-9.

Is Ruby Star Coneflower deer resistant?

Ruby Star Coneflower is generally deer resistant due to its rough, textured foliage and strong scent that deer typically avoid. This native cultivar thrives in zones 4-9 and handles tough conditions well. For best deer protection, plant in sunny locations where it's naturally strongest - available at naturehills.com.

Ruby Star Coneflower

Echinacea purpurea 'Ruby Star'