Brighten your garden beds with the flowering herb Echinacea- this perennial coneflower comes from the daisy family and is popularly used as a natural remedy to combat cold and flu symptoms. Distinguished by the large, dramatic seed heads and vibrant, showy petals; enjoy the bloom of sweet Echinacea all summer long.
A drought, heat, humidity and poor soil tolerant perennial, Echinacea not only has a gorgeous bloom but an extremely vigorous ability to weather the elements; making it the perfect choice for beds, borders, containers, and wildflower gardens. Ideal for a cottage or home away from home, they take care of themselves all while attracting butterflies and hummingbirds!
Echinacea is excellent as a cut or dried flower and is a key ingredient in many herbal tea blends! Although all parts of the plant are indeed edible, the leaves and flower buds are most commonly the specimens harvested for tea. Three species of Echinacea that are commonly used for herbal remedies include Echinacea angustifolia, Echinacea pallida, and Echinacea purpurea.
Echinacea Care and Maintenance:
- Soil: Ideally prefer average to loamy soil
- Sun: Full or light shade
- Water: Grows best with adequate moisture but are quite tolerant of neglect.
- Fertilize: Mulching the plant with compost each spring will provide the nutrition required for healthy foliage and blooms.
- Maintenance: Cut off spent blooms to encourage new blooms
