Echinacea purpurea

Echinacea purpurea Details

Echinacea purpurea, commonly known as the Purple Coneflower, is an herbaceous perennial renowned for its beautiful flowers through summer and autumn. The flowers are daisy like and made up of pink petals which surround an orange, central cone. Flowers are about 100 mm in diameter with the outer petals having a distinct, downward arch. Birds will feed on the seeds if the dead heads are not removed and the flowers themselves attract butterflies. The foliage comprises a mound of coarse, dark green leaves. It grows to about 1 m tall and about 50 cm wide, performing best on a well-drained, sheltered site in full sun. It will also grow well in partial shade and is tolerant of light frost once established. Echinacea purpurea is a great plant for borders, rock and cottage gardens, mixed flower gardens, planting beneath larger trees, or mass planting for an impressive display.