Coneflowers in this mix splash the garden with warm tones from late spring straight through to frost — reds, oranges, yellows, and bicolors on sturdy plants that don't need staking or fussing. Butterflies and bees flock to them, and the dried seed heads feed birds through winter.

Plant in any decent soil and watch them spread. Heat and drought mean nothing to them once they're settled in. Cut the spent flowers if you want more blooms, or let them stand for the wildlife.