Echinacea (coneflower)

Echinacea purpurea or Purple Coneflower is one of the best flowers for late summer and early fall. A member of the compositae family; which is a fancy way of saying it is daisy. Long-lasting in my garden, they bloom right through July and August, particularly if you deadhead them and don’t allow them to set seed.

See the note under research category for the pdf download of Echinacea trials (members only)

Name

The name Echinacea comes from the Greek, echinos or hedgehog. I’m sure this was an allusion to the prickly nature of the seedhead. The specific epithet (second name) of purpurea refers to the reddish-purple tone of the flower. So, if you’ve been following all that – we have a flower that resembles a reddish-purple hedgehog.

Quick Facts

Hardiness: USDA zone 3
Height: 24-36 inches depending on variety
Color: from magenta/purples to yellow and tones between
Propagation: seed for species. division and cuttings, root cuttings
Spacing: 24-inches apart
Soils: Demands excellent drainage

Growing Tips

You might recognize the name Echinacea for its herbal use. Its roots are used as an immune booster – if taken for a few days before a cold really sets in it is purported to ward off the worst effects of the virus. A word of caution here to the wise – recent studies have shown that it should only be taken for a few days or one week at the most. Prolonged use reduces its effect.

We’re really looking at it as an ornamental though and you should know it loves the open sunny garden. It thrives in drier gardens than most other plants so it is a good plant for that hot, dry spot. You do have to water it to establish new plantings but once established, it can thrive on its own.

The really nice thing about this plant is that it will also tolerate some light shade and good soil.

Drought Tolerant But…

It is important to understand that while a plant may be drought tolerant when established – while its roots are still young and small, it is not drought tolerant at all and will quickly die off if left to fend for itself in a dry soil. You have to water any plant to get it established – to get its own roots out into your soil. To get the roots out of the potted soil it has been growing in. This can take an entire season to accomplish in many cases.

Shortening Lifespan

The only thing that will shorten its lifespan is heavy clay soils or constantly damp soils; it does not like to have its roots constantly wet. It likes good drainage. I have found the plant does really well in moderately fertile soils and if there is enough water in mid summer when it is setting seed, there is no problem with obtaining more plants.

Most Important Thing

The new breeding of Echinacea have led to different root structures than the hardy species. While the roots are good, they require special handling to ensure the plants are hardy in their first year. The deal is simple. When the plant grows up to 12-18 inches tall, cut it back to 9-inches tall. This will force the plant to bush up and develop a good root system. And cut off any blooms the plant tries to produce.

This simple trick will allow the plant to develop a full root system and develop full hardiness. If you do not do this, you’re likely going to have greater winter losses in the first winter (the plant should outgrow this problem itself in the second year). Allowing blooms in the first year simply increases the chances of winterkill in the first year.

Comments on Propagation

It self-sows prolifically in my garden. You can propagate them from seed collected from a friend’s garden, or whacking off a division from an established plant will easily transfer plants between friends.

For the botanically interested, you can also propagate this one by root cuttings. So, if you have one of the nicer forms that doesn’t come true from seed, division or root cuttings will easily increase the numbers.

Varieties

Echinacea purpurea is the most common species found in garden centers and breeders are starting to develop some interesting cultivars. For example, ‘White Star’ is a pale white form. I’ve had this in the garden and let me caution you not to let this plant self sow.

It does not breed true so all offspring will revert darker and darker back to the species purple-pink. If you want more than one of this plant, you’ll have to sow extra seed and grow them yourself. This plant is an easily started perennial daisy, and if you start your own perennials, it will present no problems.

This plant is being introduced in large numbers right now and there are some stunning varieties now available in garden centers. Here are a few of the ones I’ve grown and can recommend.

‘Magnus’ rose pink with flat flowers, excellent plant
‘Rubinstern’ is one of the larger forms – easily reaching 100 cm (44-inches) in height with a dark carmine bloom with a dark orange tone.
‘Razzmatazz’ is a new bright double pink form that is also a great garden plant.
‘Sunrise’ a fine yellow with green-toned centers
‘Sunset’ electric orange blooms, fragrant
‘Orange Meadowbrite’ has sunset orange flowers
‘Mango Meadowbrite’ has a mango colored bloom
‘Vintage Wine’ deep purple with non-drooping petals. Excellent.

Echinacea ‘Big Sky Sunrise’