Home & Garden

One of the showiest garden plants to thrive in the heat and humidity of summer is Purple Coneflower (Echinecea). Several species are available, all of which are native to the eastern U.S., including the most popular E. purpurea and one native to Tennessee - aptly named E. tennesseensis. These beautiful perennials are wonderful additions to a naturalized wildflower garden, the perennial or cut-flower border, and even the herb or vegetable garden. They help create a cottage garden feel. They are also great for attracting bees, butterflies, and birds (especially goldfinches) to the garden.

Purple coneflower is a member of the Aster family and is related to sunflowers, black-eyed Susan, and other daisies. Although the name implies a purple color, recent breeding efforts have resulted in a wide range of flower colors. White Swan and Kims Mophead are white varieties, Sunrise is butter yellow, Sundown is a wonderful red orange, while Tiki Torch is a bright pumpkin orange. More traditional purple cultivars are Magnus and Maxima, and Merlot which blooms on purple stems. Razzmatazz is a double-flowered pink to purple pincushion while Doppelganger (Doubledecker) has two tiers of petals, one below the seed head cone and one on top.

Coneflowers are easy to grow and require little care. They must have a full sun location with well-drained soil; however, they often survive in less than ideal soils. They are light feeders, so once they are established fertilizer should be kept to a minimum and competing weeds should be removed. There are few pest or disease problems and even deer don’t seem to care for them.

Coneflowers usually begin blooming in mid to late June (though sometimes as early as May) and continue through August. They can be easily propagated by division in the fall or early spring, and by seed, although that is usually more difficult and time consuming. Plants should never be collected from the wild as these native populations are dwindling.

Echinecea was used as a medicinal plant by many Native American tribes for ailments such as toothaches, coughs, sore throats and colds. It was quickly adopted by settlers as a medicinal plant as well and is still marketed as an herbal supplement for stimulating the immune system and fighting infection. Recent studies have indicated some mixed results when echinecea is used as a supplement and long-term use is under question. Always check with a doctor first before using any herbal supplement.

For summertime color, care-free maintenance, and to attract birds, bees and butterflies, purple coneflower is a great choice for the worry free garden.

James Newburn is a research associate in the Department of Plant Sciences at the University of Tennessee. He is curator of the UT Gardens which are located in Knoxville on Neyland Drive. The Gardens are a project of the UT AgResearch program. They are open to the public from dawn till dusk. More information is available at http://utgardens.tennessee.edu/.

Email to a Friend
Please enter the following information:

Your Name:

Your Email:

Recipient Name:

Recipient Email:

Notes:

Please enter the word you see in
the image below:

Information being sent:

Magazine:
Tennessee Home & Farm, Fall 2010 Edition Edition

Headline:
UT Gardens’ Plant of the Month: Purple Coneflower

Summary:
Purple coneflower is a member of the Aster family and is related to sunflowers, black-eyed Susan, and other daisies.

This article brought to you by: