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Mexican Hat Planting and Care Guide
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Quick Facts About Mexican Plant
Mexican Hat is a fast-growing wildflower that is not fussy about soils and the flowers are showy, attract beneficial insects, and have a unique look! The blooms are sombrero-shaped, with red to yellow petals drooping down, and a central brownish red cone. The flowers work wonderfully in a naturalized setting or meadow, and they're drought tolerant. Another common name is Prairie Coneflower.
Planting Time
Mexican Hat seeds respond well to a cold treatment. Sow the seeds directly outdoors in the late fall after a killing frost or early spring when frosts are still expected. Following a 2 - 4 week cold treatment in the refrigerator, Mexican Hat seeds can be started indoors 6 - 8 weeks prior to the end of frost season. Plants grown from seed will not produce flowers until the second year.
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Planting Location
Mexican Hat plants thrive in full sun, and in hot, dry conditions. They do best in poor to average soils that drain well.
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How to Plant Mexican Hat
- If starting Mexican Hat seeds indoors, dampen some sand or soil, add the seeds in, and place this mixture in the refrigerator for 2 - 4 weeks
- Following the cold period, start the flower seeds in starter trays
- Cover the seeds lightly with soil
- Keep the soil constantly moist and warm for germination
- Place the tray in a bright sunny window for growing
- Once the seedlings are several inches tall, harden them off for 7 - 10 days
- Transplant outdoors once frost danger has passed
- Or, prepare a seedbeed by working the soil several inches
- Add compost to improve the soil drainage
- Sow the Mexican Hat seeds and cover lightly with soil
- Keep the area continually moist for germination
- Thin seedlings to strongest plant about 18 inches apart
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Care And Maintenance
- Mexican Hat plants require very little care
- Water only when soil dries out
- Divide plants every 3 - 4 years