![]() Whether you choose a fancy cultivar or one of the good old fashioned ones, Echinacea is sure to bring you gardening joy. ![]() New introductions continue to bring us more petal and cone colors, sturdier growth habits and fluffy double blooms. Echinacea varieties with thinner, heavily veined leaves, such as 'Tiki Torch' or 'Flame Thrower' are usually more sensitive to drainage. Generally our soils in the Portland area are heavy clay, and drainage is mediocre. With all the new varieties out there it can be tough to figure out which one will thrive in your garden. ![]() Now you can find coneflowers in practically every shade of the rainbow: pinks, reds, oranges, yellows and even green. Within the last few decades breeders have hybridized Echinacea into a wonderful array of colors, sizes and fragrances. Butterflies love EchinaceaĬlassically, Echinacea come in pale pink, dark pink and white. Echinacea combine beautifully with Agastache, grasses, Kniphofia (Red Hot Poker), and Perovskia (Russian Sage). They are fantastic cut flowers and they attract butterflies. You can deadhead the first bloom for a smaller second bloom. These beauties to bloom in June through September. They are quite drought tolerant once established. The pollen and seeds are also extremely beneficial for bees, and the seeds are food for the birds.Ĭoneflowers prefer full sun, average to lean soil and regular water for the first year. Generally roots can be harvested when they are 2-3 years old. purpurea are most commonly used in the herbal trade for their immune supporting qualities. The roots, leaves, flowers and seeds of E. Today most Americans know it as Purple Coneflower.Įchinacea has also become a household word because of its medicinal qualities. The Crow called it "Like Comb" and used it for colds, toothache and colic. The Cheyenne called it "mohk ta" and used it for sore mouth and gums. Echinacea is a Native American genus that has won its way into gardens around the world.
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