Echinacea – Echinacea purpurea

Plant family: Asteraceae

Plant origin: Eastern North America.

Fruit description:

Flowers: The dark pink-purple flowers are large, showy, and daisy-like. They are produced middle to late Summer. Each has a prominent orange cone-shaped centre, actually composed of many minute male or female flowers, and the cone is surrounded by down-facing petals.

Growing conditions: Echinacea is a spectacular perennial plant, very easy to grow. It can reach 1.5 metres tall and may need tying to help it stand up. It makes an attractive and striking border plant. The leaves are wide and lance-shaped with serrated edges. It likes deep rich loamy soil, and plenty of sunshine. Water it well in Summer though an established plant can tolerate dry periods. It likes a warm or temperate climate but not tropical. It multiplies into clumps every year and may need dividing every few years.

Uses: An extract is made from Echinacea for the treatment of infections.

Medicinal uses: Echinacea extract increases the body's resistance to infections.

Pollination requirements: Self-Pollinating

Harvest time

Plant relatives

Special features:

Grown by method: Seed Grown Pot size: 100mm

Plant growing Height and Width for pots or in the ground planting: Grows to 1 metres high by 0.5 metres wide if Planted in a Pot. Grows 1.5 metres high by 1 metres wide if Planted in the Ground.

Shipping plant pot or planter bag size: 100mm