The prairie is splashed with color when the flowers are blooming. Mexican hat is known for its particular cone and petals, which come in a variety of colors.

Prairie coneflower, Mexican hatRatibida columniferaAppearanceThis colorful prairie coneflower is a native perennial to western North America. The flower has a protrusive central cone surrounded by drooping petals that resemble a Mexican sombrero, hence the name Mexican hat. The foliage has lobed, gray-green leaves that spread predominately from the center clump, also extending partway up the flowering stems. Colors include yellow, butterscotch, brownish purple and red.CultivationMexican hat blooms from June to September and is drought tolerant. It prefers full sun and does well in poor soil. This flower, at maturity, can be 2-3 feet high and 12-24 inches wide. It dies all the way back to the ground after the first frost and is slow to emerge in the spring, so care should be taken during spring cleanup as not to uproot them. They flourish up to 7,500 feet.Landscape useGreat used in prairies, along roadsides, slopes and any dry, sunny spot at your place. They are an excellent choice for cutting flowers, lasting five to 10 days in vase arrangements. Deer generally will prefer other options in the neighborhood before nibbling coneflowers.—For answers to your horticultural questions, contact the Master Gardener Help Desk at 636-8921, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays, or CSUmg2@elpasoco.com.

These particular coneflowers are often called Mexican hat for their resemblance to sombreros. Photo by Photo courtesy of Leslie Holzmann