I noticed a plant called Echibeckia for sale at a neighborhood grocery—must be some kind of cross between Echinacea and Rudbeckia. Why would plant breeders do this? Are these crosses garden-worthy? Will they be as attractive to pollinators as their parent plants?
xEchibeckia is described as an intergeneric cross (the x represents a cross between two genera), but according to Plant Delights nursery owner Tony Avent (quoted in Greenhouse Grower, March 2015), it does not appear to differ from an ordinary Rudbeckia hirta. “‘We have to be careful with intergeneric crosses and make sure they are truly what they say they are,’ he says. ‘If we don’t, we will lose credibility with consumers, something our industry can’t afford.'”
In her book Butterfly Gardening (Princeton University Press, 2018), Jane Hurwitz mentions this very issue. This trademarked (i.e., propagation prohibited), human-made cross is said to have larger and longer-lasting flowers, faster growth, and disease resistance but it may be “less useful to butterflies and their caterpillars. […] Given the wide number of variables that altered plants introduce, it is easy to summarily dismiss garden plants that have been bred to differ from the straight species as harmful to the garden food web. However, these plants are a fact of life and are promoted by a large, thriving, retail nursery industry […] so the plant buyer should be aware of both their virtues and their shortcomings.”
If you want to grow only those plants specifically known to attract pollinators and beneficial insects, then plant species Echinaceas and Rudbeckias, or choose cultivated varieties with a known track record in attracting them. But if you have fallen in love with this plant, why deny yourself the enjoyment of its presence in the garden? An informal survey of Pacific Northwest gardeners suggests that Echibeckia may do best in containers that are regularly watered and fertilized. Several gardeners found them to be short-lived (more like annuals than perennials), and susceptible to mildew at the end of a long season of blooming. Your experience may differ. Experimentation leads to discovery: it may do well for you, but if Echibeckia fails to thrive or attract as many pollinators as you might wish, there are always other plants to grow.