Echinacea : Purple Coneflower

Beautiful purple blooms, highly medicinal native plant

Purple coneflower is the easiest type of Echinacea to grow, and the most commonly used species for medicinal purposes. Although all parts of the plant have some medicinal value, it is the fresh root that is most practical and effective for home medicine making.

Lovely wildflower native to North America with lavender petals surrounding a reddish-orange cone center. Attracts bees and beneficial insects; seed heads are favored by finches.

Asteraceae Echinacea purpurea

This is an example of the timeline you would see based on your growing conditions.

Echinacea: Echinacea

Purple Coneflower

Echinacea is a widespread and diverse genus of plants consisting of nine unique species indigenous to open glades, woodlands, riparian lowlands, prairies, and mountains in North America. The plants are herbaceous perennials, anchored in the soil by either a spreading, fibrous root or a taproot, depending on the species. The roots are tough and earthy-smelling, with crowns that grow woody with age, giving rise to full rosettes of leaves. The leaf shapes may be narrowly lance-shaped and entire or broadly lance-shaped and toothed. Mature plants produce several flowering stalks, sometimes branched, with leaves occurring sparsely up the stem. They are crowned by the magnificent purple flower. Most plants are medicinal and have been used throughout history for a wide variety of ailments.

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Basics

Ease of Growing: Easy
Grown as: Perennial
Growing Habit: -
Hardiness: Hardy

Echinacea purpurea is hardy to all temperate zones.
Crops: Spring Transplant, Spring
Growing Season: Short, Long
Cultivar Type: -
Growing Conditions: Cold, Cool, Warm, Hot

Echinacea will be most productive in a warm sunny spot, but will tolerate light shade as well as a wide range of weather conditions once it is established.
Outdoor Growing Temp: 50°F - 95°F
Min Outdoor Soil Temp: 50°F

There is really no advantage to planting Echinacea in colder soil, so wait until the soil reaches at least 50 ˚F.
Start Indoors: Yes
Start Outdoors: Yes
Light: Sun: min. 6 hours daily (Cold, Cool, Warm, Hot)

Echinacea prefers full sun, but will tolerate light shade.
Water: Low

Once established, Echinacea only needs to be watered during drought or high heat periods. However, it doesn't hurt to give the plants some water every couple weeks, especially if the soil is dry.
Feeder: Moderate

Prefers rich soil.
Suitability: Drought tolerant, Tolerates light frost, Tolerates hard frost, High heat
Small Gardens?: Yes
Containers?: Yes

Plant individual plants in 2 to 3 gallon pots, or multiple plants in a narrow planter that is at least 1 1/2' wide. Add gravel to the bottom of the container to encourage draining. Place pots in full sun. Every spring, fertilize your plants and prune back dead flowers and leaves.
Attracts beneficial insects?: Yes
Color
Fruit Size: - "
Plant Height: 36.0 - 48.0"
Plant Diameter: 18.0 - 24.0"
Hardiness Zone: 3-9
Disease Resistance
Taste Profile
Rotation Group: Perennial

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Plant Guide

Echinacea : Purple Coneflower

Beautiful purple blooms, highly medicinal native plant

Purple Coneflower

Basics