Id-Code: RA 182
Family: Asteraceae, Compositae
Origin: North America (Ohio and Michigan south to Georgia, west to Oklahoma and northeast Texas)
Special Features: The rose-purple flowers are arranged more horizontally than the pendulous, or drooping, habit of the wild species and other seed strains.
Distinction: Selected by the membership of the Perennial Plant Association as the 1998 Perennial Plant of the Year, and Award of Garden Merit (A.G.M.) from The Royal Horticultural Society.
History: The result of over ten years of careful selection by Swedish nurseryman, Magnus B. Nilsson. In 1982 Mr. Nilsson offered the result of his successful breeding to Klaus Jelitto. Klaus called this cultivar 'Magnus' to honor the breeder. Production was begun and Echinacea 'Magnus' was introduced in the 1985 Jelitto catalogue.
Colour: Rose-purple
Natural Flowering Period: July - September
Winter Hardiness Zones: Z3-8
Growth Habit: Upright / Clumping
Foliage: Ovate-lanceolate, 20 x 10 cm (8'' x 3'')
Height with Flower: 100 cm (40'')
Spacing between Plants: 45 cm (18'')
Soil Requirement: Average, well-drained soil; pH 5,8 - 6,8
Location: Full sun
Use: Durable, low maintenance perennial which can be combined with Digitalis ambigua, Pardancanda 'Dazzler' and Stokesia 'Omega Skyrocket'
Specialities: Good cut-flower. Will produce 2 - 3 flowers the first year; 6 - 8 / 2nd year; up to 15 / 3rd year

Cultural Tips:
Grams per 1000 seeds: 4
Seeds per Gram: 250
Seeding Recommendation: 10 g / 1000 plants
Sowing Rate: 2-3 seeds per cell
Plug tray recommended size(s): 72 or 128
Germination: Rapidly germinating (3 to 4 weeks), keep seed in constant moisture (not wet) with temperatures of about + 20°C (68°F). Seeds must be covered thinly. Keep in cooler conditions after germination occurs. The Germination is a little bit irregular but it poses no problems.

Scheduling:
Best Sowing Dates: Anytime
Sowing to Germination: 2 - 3 weeks
Germination to Transplant: 4 - 6 weeks
Transplanting to Salable Plant: 4 - 5 weeks
Cutting-Back at Transplanting: Not Necessary

Growing On:
Container Size(s): 1-2 plugs per 11/12 cm (4 1/2''); 2-3 plugs per 15 cm (6'')
Vernalization: Some flowering will occur the first year without vernalization, but improved flowering will occur the 2nd year; and 3-10 weeks of cool temperatures might benefit fuller flowering in the first year.
Forcing: There has been no research on 'Magnus', but an obvious place to experiment - following vernalization - would be raising daytime temperatures to 60° - 65°F (15° - 17°C). Provide 16 hours of continuous lighting. During the short days of winter, provide a night interruption lighting of 4 hours between 10:00 p.m. and 2:00 a.m. Some later flowering species can be forced in 14 - 16 weeks and perhaps sooner at warmer temperatures. Further experiments are warranted with 'Magnus'.
Fertilization: Medium (150-200 ppm)