Flowers
-ray flowers ("petals") are lavender-pink (species form) or white (some cultivars), on inflorescences about 3" wide, with the petals either drooping (species form) or held horizontally (most cultivars), while the central disk flowers are raised into a cone or dome shape, ranging from golden-purple to bronzy-green in color
-the stout peduncles (flowering stalks, or "stems") join the swollen receptacles (the bases of each flower), creating a subtle inverted pyramidal shape at the juncture that is often unnoticed beneath the reflexed petals, but becomes more obvious as the peduncles become fruiting stalks; in addition, the receptacle is covered with prickly coarse scales
-best floral performance occurs by putting this perennial in sites with morning sun followed by afternoon shade, so that the petal colors will not bleach out in the intense afternoon heat and sunlight of summer
-each of the stiff flowering stalks has several flowers blooming over a month long period in July and early Aug., with occasional rebloom during late summer and early autumn, especially if deadheaded |
Fruit
-seeds, as a unit, form a prominent central cone that turns gray in autumn, with seeds slowly shattering from the peduncle as the winter progresses (if not deadheaded or subjected to autumn cleanup), therefore, the fruiting heads are not especially ornamental |
Twig
-not applicable |