Spring planting doesn’t start when the air feels warm, It...Read More
Purple Echinacea Coneflower is a wildflower native to Eastern and Central North America where they can be found growing wild in open prairies, wooded areas, meadows and grasslands. This native variety is a long-lived perennial that blooms in midsummer. Echinacea attracts enormous amounts of native insects, bees and butterflies, making it an excellent addition to include for any style of garden. For the ultimate butterfly & pollinator waystation, always make sure you get our Common Milkweed seeds included in your flower garden!
Echinacea holds up even when neglected and can be grown in most soil types in full sun to partial shade. Purple Echinacea Coneflower flowers display 3 inch purple petals surrounding a maroon conical center atop their tall stems and foliage which can tower up to 4 feet tall.
All the 10+ members of the Echinacea genus are native to North America, though they are becoming rarer in the wild. Historically, this family of plants has been commonly used by Native American tribes and early settlers.
NAME: Echinacea (Echinacea purpurea)
VARIETY: Purple Coneflower
GERMINATION: 99%
HARDINESS ZONE: Zones 2 – 8
PLANT TYPE: Perennial
STRATIFICATION: Recommended, instructions provided
DAYS TO MATURITY: 90 – 110 days
SUNLIGHT: Full Sun / Partial Sun
SOIL: Average soils with a soil pH 6.5 – 7.0
PLANT HEIGHT: 2 – 4 feet
SPACING: 12 – 18 inches
TEMP: 40 – 90 °F
Take a clean dye-free paper towel and completely dampen it with water; ensure that it is not too wet, squeezing out any excess moisture.
Lay paper towel on a table and sprinkle desired quantity of seeds on one half of the paper towel, ensuring that they are not overlapping.
Fold the paper towel in half over the seeds and slip into a plastic zipping baggie; ideally the size of the bag should be bigger than the size of the paper towel, so it does not bunch up.
Seal shut the baggie and place this into an undisturbed area of the refrigerator. Check on the moisture once a week to make sure it is damp to the touch; if it becomes slightly dry add some drops of water until remoistened. You must leave the bag in the refrigerator for 30 to 45 days.
This mimics the natural stratification process. After this time, they are ready to direct seed into pots, cells, or prepared soil.
If mold grows on your seeds, the towel was too wet and you must start over.
If seeds prematurely sprout you can remove and immediately plant, root side down.
To learn more about Stratification, click here!
While it’s possible to start Purple Echinacea seeds indoors, it is not the optimal method due to Echinacea’s long taproot white is sensitive to root disturbance.
If you still choose to start seeds indoors, use seed trays or biodegradable pots filled with well-draining potting soil.
Sow the stratified seeds thinly on the soil surface and lightly press them in.
Keep the soil consistently moist and place the trays in a location with plenty of sunlight or under grow lights.
Transplant seedlings outdoors once they have developed several sets of true leaves, being careful not to disturb the roots.
Prepare a soil bed for the seeds, that is fertile and free of weeds, large rocks and compacted soil; you should be able to stick your finger into the soil 3 or more inches if it is well aerated and correctly prepared.
After stratification, scatter 3 stratified seeds every 18 inches and cover with 1/4inch of soil.
Water the seeds in well and check the soil moisture every other day, you want to keep it moist during germination, which can take up to 20 days to germinate once sown.
In early spring, plants can be dug up, split in half at the root and transplanted elsewhere to propagate
Purple Echinacea is a hardy perennial that thrives in full sun to partial shade and well-draining soil.
Water young plants regularly to establish a strong root system, but once established, Echinacea is drought-tolerant and only requires occasional watering during dry spells.
Apply a balanced fertilizer once a year in early spring to promote healthy growth and flowering.
Deadhead spent blooms to encourage continuous flowering throughout the growing season.
Monitor for pests and diseases, but Echinacea is relatively resistant to most common garden pests and diseases.
Harvest Purple Echinacea flowers when they are fully open and at their peak freshness.
Use sharp scissors or pruning shears to cut the flower stems just below the flower head.
You can use the fresh flowers immediately or dry them for later use in teas, tinctures, or herbal remedies.
