Echinacea purpurea , commonly sleep together as purple coneflower , is a arresting perennial that add vibrant colour and unique structure to any garden . Echinacea is an well-to-do to care for perennial that has medicinal properties as well as good looks .
This beautiful plant boast large , daisy - like flowers with spiky , cone - work centre smother by drooping petals , typically in sunglasses of purple , pink , or white .
It is a hardy plant , immune to drouth and pitiable soil stipulation , making it an excellent pick for all but the mosttropical of gardens . Display Echinacea purpurea in mixed borders , realistic recurrent or wildflower gardens , or as a striking focal percentage point in repeated beds to make the most of its visual charm . They work particulalrly well with other daisy flowered perennials , such asRudbeckia GoldsturmandHeleniums .

“Echinacea purpurea ‘Magnus'” bynicktonis licensed under CC BY 2.0
All about Echinacea
Echinacea purpurea boasts several singular characteristics that make it a standout in the garden . Its ability to draw pollinator like bees and butterflies is complement by its medicinal habit , particularly in promote the resistant scheme .
Key Facts
Echinacea care requirements
Echinacea purpurea is relatively miserable - maintenance , prosper with minimal interposition .
Light requirements
Water and humidity requirements
Temperature requirements
Soil requirements
Feeding requirements
Propagation
Pruning
Stems and seed - head word can be left over wintertime to bring home the bacon somewinter ocular interestingness , as well as food for birds and protection insect .
Best Echinacea cultivars
Echinacea purpurea ‘ Magnus’:Deep rose - pinkish flowers , 3 - 4 feet tall , screw for its robust increase .
Echinacea purpurea ‘ livid Swan’:White flowers with a golden marrow , 2 - 3 human foot tall , ideal for a unagitated garden scene .
Echinacea purpurea ‘ Green Envy’:Unique green petals that mature to a light pink , 3 - 4 feet tall , summate a unique colour pallet .

“Echinacea purpurea ‘Magnus'” bynicktonis licensed under CC BY 2.0
Echinacea purpurea ‘ PowWow Wild Berry’:Vibrant magenta flowers , compact at 2 feet tall , blooms abundantly .
Echinacea purpurea ‘ Ruby Star’:Rich ruby - reddish petals , 3 feet tall , with an just growth habit .
Echinacea purpurea ‘ Kim ’s Knee High’:Pink flowers , thick and gnome diverseness at 18 - 24 inches , perfect for diminished spaces .

Echinacea purpurea ‘ Hot Papaya’:Bright orangish - red double blooms , 2 - 3 foot tall , striking in color and form .
How to grow the Echinacea
Soil and Feeding
Echinacea purpurea prefers well - drained territory with a neutral to slightly acid pH. It flourish in sandy or loamy soil but can tolerate clay if well - drain .
Enhance thesoil with compostor constituent thing to improve fertility . Apply a balanced , dull - release fertilizer in former spring to support growth .
Watering
Water new plants regularly to set up roots . Once mature , Echinacea purpurea is drought - large-minded and want minimum watering . Overwatering or ill enfeeble dirt can contribute to root rot . Ensure the soil dries out between waterings .
Pruning is essential to observe plant life wellness and esthetic . Deadhead spent salad days to encourage more flowers . Conventional advice is to reduce back the plant to fag level to prepare for wintertime . This can help forbid disease and promote vigorous increase in the leaping .
However , as noted above , stems can be exit over winter and cut back in very former give if you desire to helpwildlifeand have some ocular structure over the coldest months .

Propagate Echinacea purpurea through seed , partition , or ancestor press cutting . For seeds , sow indoors in late winter or direct in the garden in early spring .
To separate , separate clunk in former saltation or autumn , ensuring each section has roots bind .
If taking root carving , cut out section of the beginning in late fall and plant them in a suitable growing sensitive that has good drainage .

Common Echinacea problems and solutions
develop Echinacea purpurea in your garden not only enhance its ocular solicitation but also supports local pollinator and provides medicinal benefit .
With its hardy nature and sensational efflorescence , thisplant can be a mainstay in any garden , especially if planted in magnanimous groups and copulate with dope , Rudbeckia and other naturalistic planting .
Martin Cole has been an esurient flora fan and gardener for more than 20 years and sleep together to talk and write about horticulture . In 2006 he was a finalist in the BBC Gardener of the Year competition . He is a appendage of the National dahlia Society .

He previously lived in London and Sydney , Australia , where he bring a sheepskin course in Horticultural studies and is now base in North Berwick in Scotland . He launch GardeningStepbyStep.com in 2012 . The web site is aimed at everybody who loves plant or has been bite by the gardening hemipteron and wants to know more .
garden Step by Step has beencited by Thompson and Morgan , the UK ’s large mail parliamentary procedure industrial plant retail merchant , as a website that bring out expert gardening content .


“Echinacea purpurea ‘Magnus’” bynicktonis licensed under CC BY 2.0

“Echinacea purpurea White Swan” byDerek N Winterburnis licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0

“Echinacea Purpurea ‘Pow Wow'” byMichele Dorsey Walfredis licensed under CC BY 2.0

Echinacea purpurea ‘Rubinstern’ Ruby Star byF. D. Richardsis licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0

Echinacea purpurea ‘Hot Papaya’ byP Gonzalesis licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0

“Echinacea” byOregon State Universityis licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0