Echinacea can be spotted along roadsides and in fields. The most common is the ever popular Purple Coneflower. Echinacea gets it’s name from the Greek word echinos, which means hedgehog, because the center cone is thought to resemble the spines of the agitated critter.
It is thought that Native Americans used Echinacea for more than 400 years for various treatments. It has also been used to treat ailments from scarlet fever to malaria. Today the common cold is thought to be helped by the ancient herb. There has been much research conducted over the benefits and uses of coneflowers.
Echinacea purpurea is a native plant. The modern cultivars that are bred for garden performance and blooms are considered “native cultivars” but not true native varieties.
All echinacea are low maintenance and drought tolerant. They also attract butterflies and other pollinators and are deer resistant. Their cone flower heads produce seeds that birds feed on.
We offer Echinacea in our Quart Perennials.
Cheyenne Spirit
Cheyenne Spirit is a mixture of red, orange, purple, scarlet, cream, yellow and white. The range of colors and sturdiness of the plant make it a great new addition to the already popular Enchinacea family. It is bread to branch more which provides more blooms and stand up to harsh weather.
Plant in full sun to part sun 15-20″ apart. Grows 18-30″ tall.
Images © 2021 Ball Horticultural Company.
Mellow Yellows
Mellow Yellows Echinacea blooms in a ranges of yellow hues from creamy ivory to lemon yellow to orangy-mango. Bloom color is bright after blooming then mellows out as the blooms mature. Each plant will vary in color. The plants are vigorous and sturdy enough to support its blooms.
Mellow Yellows is produced from seed. Echinacea grown from seed tend to be more vigorous and hardier than varieties produced from tissue culture.
Plant in full sun to part sun 20-24″ apart. Grows 28-36″ wide.
PowWow
PowWow Echinacea packs more blooms on one plant than other varieties. The PowWow series will flower sooner that other varieties and the plants are compact and full. They are low maintenance perennials that are both heat and drought tolerant.
Their compact plants do well in containers and small garden spaces which gives you a lot of blooming impact in a small area. Bloom stems are suitable for cut flower bouquets.
PowWow White have pure white petals with a yellow center that stand above the green foliage.
PowWow Wild Berry have vibrant red-purple petals with a dark rose center and stand above the green foliage. PowWow Wild Berry was chosen as a 2010 All-America Selections winner for having continuous color. The flowers do not fade as much as other purple varieties.
Plant in full sun to part sun 8-14″ apart. Grows 16-24″ tall.
Images © 2021 Ball Horticultural Company.
Echinacea Purpurea
Echinacea Purpurea is a classic native perennial that has been used in gardens for a long time. It is also known and used as a medicinal herb. Purpurea has large, lavender blooms with petals that droop slightly. The center of the blooms are a burnt orange color that contrasts nicely with the lavender petals. The leaves are deep green and have a rough texture.
Blooms last a long time on the plant and the strong stems make excellent cut flowers. Plants are vigorous and tolerate poor soils. Purpura is a must have perennial for prairie gardens or any perennial garden.
Plant in full sun to part sun 16″ apart. They grow 24-36″ tall and 12-24″ wide.
E. Purpuea images https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Echinacea_purpurea.JPG and https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Echinacea_purpurea_Grandview_Prairie.jpg
