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.

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.

Mexican Hat plants thrive in full sun, and in hot, dry conditions. They do best in poor to average soils that drain well.

• 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

• Mexican Hat plants require very little care
• Water only when soil dries out
• Divide plants every 3 - 4 years