A clump-forming perennial that doesn’t have dense foliage, the Mexican hat plant is typically grown in groups and is ideal for meadow, cottage, and wildflower gardens. They have an upright growth habit and grow up to 3 feet in height. Ratibida columnifera is an excellent choice for planting at the back of borders in sunny gardens. Mexican hat plants are used for xeriscape landscaping because of their impressive drought tolerance. In addition, their pollen and seeds will attract a wealth of pollinators and feeding birds to your garden, and they self-seed freely. Another bonus is that the foliage has a distinct odor that acts as a repellant to deer.
Light
As a native Mexican plant, the Ratibida columnifera thrives in full sun. It can tolerate light shade, but the more sun this plant receives, the more abundant and long-lasting the bloom season will be.
Soil
Mexican hat plants can adapt to a wide range of soil types. They can thrive even if it is dry and nutrient-poor. However, it can’t cope with moisture-rich or heavy clay soil. If the soil is exceptionally moist and fertile, the plant could be choked out by taller, more aggressive species.
Water
One of the Mexican hat plant’s stand-out qualities is its drought-tolerance once established, even in the hottest and driest regions. However, if you want to see the most impressive and long-lasting bloom periods through the summer, offer these plants deep waterings infrequently. It can also be helpful to use mulch, particularly in arid and hot regions, to help conserve moisture. During the winter and spring, occasional additional irrigation will only be required if the seasons are dry.
Temperature and Humidity
These plants thrive in hot and dry regions. However, too much moisture, rainfall, or cold temperatures are problematic.
Fertilizer
Mexican hat plants can still thrive in nutrient-poor soils, so they generally don’t need additional fertilization. However, adding a small amount of compost when the Ratibida columnifera is being planted is sometimes suggested, but only if the soil is poor quality.
Mexican Hat Plant Varieties
The only variety of note is the Mexican hat plant ‘Red Midget,’ a compact, erect perennial with hairy, gray-green leaves and slender, branching stems bearing daisy-like, dark red flowers.
Pruning
You can extend the bloom time on your prairie coneflowers if you deadhead through the summer. If you don’t want your plants to reseed themselves, you can mow them down after they bloom. Most enthusiasts let some seed heads ripen and instead cut them back in early spring to help the plants naturalize. The ripened seeds are a good food source for wild birds during the winter.
Propagating Mexican Hat Plant
Mexican hat plants can be propagated by dividing the rootball or sowing seed directly into a container or the ground.
How to Grow Mexican Hat Plant From Seed
This plant propagates from seeds easily. However, if you don’t plant them straight into the ground in the fall, then stored seeds may benefit from a period of cold stratification before planting in the spring.
Potting and Repotting Mexican Hat Plant
Mexican hat plants look great as potted plants in any warm, well-lit indoor setting. However, if indoors in containers, the plant will need repotting on occasion. These plants are fast growers and may outgrow their pots in several months. To avoid stressing your plants too much, repot them in early spring before their active growing season. If repotting, transplant them into containers that are one size larger than their current ones.
Overwintering
Plant the seed in the fall for overwintering or in the spring after a cold, dry stratification period.
