Echinacea purpurea
(Purple Coneflower)
Family - Asteraceae
Category - Perennial
Origin - Central USA
Year of Introduction - 1799
Season of Interest - Summer, Autumn
Hardiness - H5
Height - up to 1.5m
Width - 45cm
Location - The House Border
Description: A herbaceous Perennial with clump-forming, upright habit. Bristly mid to dark green leaves are ovate to lanceolate in shape. Daisy-like flowers are composed of an outer ring of soft pink petals (ray florets) surrounding a large, domed central cone of orange and brown Disc florets. The flowerheads are held singly atop upright stems and are produced from midsummer into mid-autumn. Good for use as cut flowers and attractive to pollinating insects.
Synonym - Rudbeckia purpurea
Additional common name - Black Samson
'Echinos' is the Greek word for hedgehog, a reference to the prickly centre of the flower.
Flower:
Daisy-like flowerheads are composed of soft pink ray florets (petals), surrounding a large, orange and brown central cone of disc florets and stiff, pointed bracts. The flowers are held singly atop upright stems and are produced from July to October.
Flower colour: Pink
Flower shape: Daisy-like flowers, disc and ray florets, held singly
Flowering time: July, August, September, October
Foliage:
Bristly, mid to dark green leaves have serrate margins and are ovate at the base of the plant, becoming more lanceolate up the stems. The leaves are mostly held at the base of the plant with fewer leaves Alternately arranged on the stems.
Foliage Senescence: Deciduous
Foliage Shape: Ovate to lanceolate
Pest and Diseases:
Protect the emerging growth from slugs in spring.
Propagation:
Seed, division.
Cultivation:
Best in full sun in rich, moisture-retentive soil that is well-drained.