Along about midsummer the daisy family becomes the top
dog in the garden. And the cone flowers are tops in that category. In the wild
Echinacea purpurea is being over-harvested for the roots which are highly esteemed by those that
make herbal remedies. So grow some of your own purple cone flower and you will have plenty. It
grows to 18-24" tall and forms a gradually spreading clump.
Purple cone flower can be easily
divided in the fall. With all of the yellows and oranges becoming dominant
in the summer it is
nice to have something on the pink and purple side. Echinacea purpurea
will mix well in
the perennial garden as well as the meadow garden. There are a wide
range of Echinacea purpurea cultivars available, below there are links to
nurseries that sell them.
Echinacea purpurea 'Kim's Knee High'. Dwarf cultivar with rosy
pink flowers and reflexed petals. Click
here to buy plants.
Echinacea purpurea 'Little Giant'. Dwarf cultivar with
particularly large pink flowers, 1 foot tall. Click
here to buy plants
Echinacea purpurea 'Magnus'. Big, 3 feet tall, with red-purple
flowers. Click
here to buy plants.
Echinacea purpurea 'Purple'. Pictured below. 2 feet
tall. Click
here to buy plants.
Echinacea purpurea 'Sparkler'. 2 feet tall, speckled variegation
on the foliage. Pale pink flowers. Click
here to buy plants.
Echinacea purpurea 'Sunrise'. 4-5" Yellow flowers, 2 feet
tall, new cultivar on the market. Click
here to buy plants.
Echinacea purpurea 'Sunset'. 4" orange flowers with dark
centers, 2 feet tall, new cultivar on the market. Click
here to buy plants.
Echinacea purpurea 'White Swan'. 2 feet tall, white flowers,
reflexed petals. Click
here to buy plants.
High resolution images
of Echinacea purpurea are available
