Echinacea - Coneflowers are Garden Favorites

Overview:

Coneflowers, especially the purple varieties, are old fashioned prairie plants. Echinacea resemble daisies with swept-back petals They are hardy, drought tolerant and long-blooming and are being cultivated in a ever widening range of colors.

Latin name:

Echinacea

Common Name(s): Coneflower

Zone:

3-9

Size:

24 - 48" H, 16 - 18" W

Exposure:

Full Sun / Partial Shade

Bloom Period/Days to Harvest:

Repeat blooms throughout summer

Cultural Notes:

Tolerant of most growing conditions, but prefers well-drained soil and full sun. Allow for good air circulation to prevent fungal diseases. Rich soil can cause Echinacea to become leggy.

Maintenance: Plants should be deadheaded for continual bloom. Shearing back in the early summer will result in bushier plants that bloom longer into the season. Divide as needed to keep plants in check.

Design Tips:

Coneflowers combine especially well with other native prairie type plants such as: ornamental grasses, achillea (yarrow), Asclepias (butterfly weed) and Eupatorium (Joe Pye Weed).

Suggested Varieties:

• E. purpurea ‘Magnus’ - Deep purple petals with orange centers. Very adaptable.
• E. purpurea ‘White Lustre’ - Rich, creamy white petals.
• E. tennesseensis. - Narrow, deep mauve petals and greenish pink centers.
• Take a look at the new many colored coneflower introductions.