from late spring to fall. The flowers rise up on long stems making it ideal, as a cut flower and the blooms are very showy and long lasting. The petals are one to 1\2 inches long and creamy white in color the center of the flower resembles a cone edged in yellow. Once the petals fall, the cone remains on the plant until the winter, and the cone is black in color, very unusual looking. The plant is very hardy and so it is a must for the beginner gardener. The plant grows 2 to 3 feet tall and grows as wide. The plant does best in a sandy soil but grows anywhere and it is very drought tolerant. The large daisy like flowers attracts butterflies and hummingbirds in the summer and birds during the winter for their seeds. The Coneflower loves the heat and the sun and will out last most plants during drought periods.