Coneflower
It is a member of the compositae family; which is just a botanist’s way of saying it belongs to the daisy family and anybody who ever looked at one could have told them that anyway.
The Name
I’ve always thought of the cone flower slightly backward flower petals as daisies-in-a-hurry. Long-lasting in my garden, they bloom right through July and August, particularly if deadheaded and not allowed to go to seed. The name Echinacea comes from the Greek, echinos or hedgehog. I’m sure this was an allusion to the prickly nature of the seedhead. The specific epithet (second name) of purpurea refers to the reddish-purple tone of the flower. So, if you’ve been following all that – we have a flower that resembles a reddish-purple hedgehog. Sounds just about right for my garden
Herbal Use
Many of you will no doubt be familiar with the cone flower for its herbal use. Its roots are used as an immune booster – if taken for a few days before a cold really sets in it is purported to ward off the worst effects of the virus. A word of caution here to the wise – recent studies have shown that it should only be taken for a few days or one week at the most. Prolonged use reduces its effect.
Personally, I’m not sure which of the resins, fatty acids, glycosides or other more esoteric compounds of the cone flower is supposed to accomplish this task, I am sure however of a 1915 study that found Echinacea had no antibacterial or aphrodisiac powers. So, it is safe to take for a cold with no secondary side effects.
Growing Conditions
The entire family of cone flower or Echinacea loves the open sunny garden. It thrives in drier gardens than most other plants so it is a good plant for that hot, dry spot.
Do water it to establish new plantings but once established, it can thrive on its own. The really nice thing about this plant is that it will also tolerate some light shade and good soil.
The only thing that will shorten the cone flower lifespan is heavy clay soils or constantly damp soils; it does not like to have its roots constantly wet. It likes good drainage.
I have found the plant does really well in moderately fertile soils and if there is enough water in mid summer when it is setting seed, there is no problem with obtaining more plants.
Propagation
The cone flower self-sows prolifically in my garden. You can propagate them from seed collected from a friend’s garden, or whacking off a division from an established plant will easily transfer plants between friends. For the botanically interested, you can also propagate this one by root cuttings. So, if you have one of the nicer forms that doesn’t come true from seed, division or root cuttings will easily increase the numbers.
Video
Good Varieties
Echinacea purpurea is the most common species found in garden centres and breeders are starting to develop some interesting cultivars.
‘White Star’ is a pale white form. I’ve had this in the garden and let me caution you not to let this plant self sow. It does not breed true so all offspring will revert darker and darker back to the species purple-pink. If you want more than one of this plant, you’ll have to sow extra seed and grow them yourself. This plant is an easily started perennial daisy, and if you start your own perennials, it will present no problems.
‘Magnus’ is another seed started cultivar making the rounds and it has a slightly darker flower than the species. I like this one but it too doesn’t breed true – at least it never did in my garden.
There are a whole range of new hybrids on the market including the double 'Razzmatazz' , fragrant white 'Fragrant Angel' including yellows and oranges galore.
These are all wonderful plants and I recommend them highly. It is almost impossible to keep up with them all.
Other Interesting Species
Two related plants that you might consider growing in your wild garden area are Echinacea pallida and E. angustifolia.
Echinacea pallida is a paler form of cone flower; the flower is a light purplish-pink, as its name “pallida” would suggest. I’ve had this plant several times and it has died out for me. I think I treated it too well, growing it in the good soil of the perennial border where it got too soft to survive the winter, and collected too many of the seeds to allow it to self-sow.
Echinacea angustifolia is quite hardy with a light purplish bloom (more purple than pink) but is not an exceptional garden plant compared to E. purpurea. I’ve grown it as well and would consign it to the cutting wild garden out in the dry wild meadow.
So, grow these hardy cone flowers in your sunny perennial border if you are looking for a good mid to late summer blooming perennial. And, if you get too many, you can always dig the roots to safely stop those early winter colds.
'Magnus' (below)
Ask Questions About Coneflower
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