Monday, December 2, 2013

Growing Echinacea or Purple Coneflower

Purple Cone Flower (Echinacea) is a hardy attractive flower that looks great in almost any flower garden. The plants grow 3 feet to 4 feet tall on coarse hairy stems and bloom from July until frost. Purple coneflower is cold hardy, surviving winters as far north as the Canadian border. It thrives in either dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought, once established. They will self-seed and you can establish a thriving bed in just one or two growing seasons. They will also do well planted in containers or pots. (A good way to use some of those seedlings that will come up in places you may not want them!) They transplant very well.Flowers: Purple coneflower blossoms are 2½ or more inches across, and resemble daisies. The purple coneflower is a native plant of North America and grows on the plains of midwestern United States and is a great attractor of butterflies. The seed heads, if left over winter are a great source of food for birds and will attract several species, especially the pretty gold finches.The root of the purple cone flower plant, after its boom in the third or fourth year is used for medicinal purposes.Long before the coming of the European settlers, the native Americans used Echinacea to treat a variety of problems, from infections to snake bites.If you haven't added Purple Cone Flowers to your perennial beds, now is a good time to plant a few and enjoy their showy blooms for many years to come.





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