Purple Coneflower (Echinacea)

My friend, Betsy, who is an avid gardener, recently gave me some purple coneflowers from her garden. I planted them in my perennial garden near the front walk, just above the stone retaining wall, as pictured above in the blog header.

Purple coneflower is also called Echinacea, from the Greek word "echinos" meaning hedgehog, in reference to its spiny brown central cone. It is a hardy, drought-tolerant perennial with beautiful purple flowers, dark green, lance-shape leaves with jagged edges and rigid, fuzzy green stems. It typically grows to about 3' tall and blooms from summer to autumn.

Purple coneflowers are endemic to eastern and central North America, where they are often found growing in moist to dry, open fields.

In the garden, Echinacea is an easy-to-grow perennial requiring little care. It should be planted in well-drained soil, in an area that receives full sun. When planting, set the plants 12 inches apart and no deeper than they were growing in their containers. After planting, mulch around, but not directly on top of, the plants with 3 inches of organic compost, then water until the soil is completely moist.


In addition to adding color and beauty to the garden, Echinacea is also grown for medicinal purposes. It is thought to serve as a stimulant to the body's immune system. Some evidence from clinical studies indicates Echinacea may have antiviral and antifungal effects, possibly adding to its infection-fighting ability.

Thanks for stopping by!