![]() Scientists have begun developing crosses between coneflowers and black-eyed Susans to create a new cross called Echibeckia. And the coneflower boom doesn't seem to be slowing down. Some of the most recent innovations include shorter, more durable plants, especially ones that can easily and uniformly be grown from seed. This opened up new possibilities and created new colors. ![]() Breeders in the late '90s and early 2000s began crossing the yellow species, Echinacea paradoxa, with the common purple coneflower, Echinacea purpurea. Its blossom (above) consists of a spiny, orange cone. There have been many new and exciting innovations in the world of purple coneflower. There is simply nothing purple about the flowers of Echinacea purpurea, one of our most popular native plants. If you see this on your plant, there is no cure except to dig up the plant and properly dispose of it before the disease is transmitted to any other plants. Symptoms will be visible on new buds and open flowers that will show erratic, contorted growth. As these bugs fly around and feed, they transmit the virus from plant to plant. These pesky little bugs feed on pollen, as well as plant juices, by scraping the plant tissue and drinking the sap. One problem with coneflower and other plants in the aster family is that it is susceptible to aster yellows, a plant virus carried by thrips. Low-Maintenance Perennials of the Mountain West But remember any seedlings will be different from the parent, especially with the fancier varieties. If left on the plant, coneflowers may reseed themselves around your garden. Goldfinches especially seem fond of sitting atop spent blossoms and picking away at the tasty seeds. As fall sets in, leave a few flower heads on the plant the seeds provide food for many small birds. Once plants have finished blooming, remove spent blooms to help encourage a second round of blooms. Plus, plants are more susceptible to foliar diseases, such as powdery mildew, when planted in the shade. They won't tolerate anything less than full sun if planted in too much shade, purple coneflowers tend to get leggy and flop. All parts of the plant are purported to have immune-boosting effects.īecause purple coneflower is native to grass prairies, it prefers well-drained soil and tolerates drought well. Purple coneflower has long been sought after for its cold-fighting properties, especially in teas. If you aren't familiar with coneflower in a garden setting, you may be familiar with it as a natural cold remedy. The petals have a pinkish purple hue, but an array of new varieties offer more flower shapes such as doubles, and colors from orange and yellow to red and deep pink so there's a coneflower for every garden. He’s converting old pastures to wildlife habitat, and his wildflowers are really spectacular! Others were taken in local gardens.The big blooms of coneflowers are usually made up of a brownish-orange central "cone" and a ring of long, slender petals radiating out from it. Some of the photos below were taken at Brian Murphy’s farm in Craig County. It tolerates dry conditions and seems to thrive in the heat of summer. The leaves of this prairie species are alternate, lance-shaped, and tapering to a point they are usually, but not always, hairy.Īlthough we typically think of Purple Coneflower as a garden perennial (and a fine one at that!), this species is a native on the east coast and is associated with prairies and open woodlands. The inflorescence is borne on a tall, hairy stem (peduncle). The ray flowers hang downward, which accents the center beautifully. The disk flowers are stiff and bristly, and they really resemble a sea urchin if you look close enough (in fact, “ echinos” means sea urchin). Leaves: 48, dark green, coarse, serrated, short stiff hairs, alternate, simple. Purple ConeflowerĪs a flower, this is an aster with pinkish-purple ray flowers and orange to purple disk flowers that are often arranged in a dome (hence the name coneflower). Purple Coneflower ( Echinacea purpurea) Common name (s): purple coneflower. The roots and leaves of Purple Coneflower, whose genus name is Echinacea, have long been used to treat inflammation, infections, pain, and even wounds. It is said to stimulate the immune system -for instance, you might take it when you feel a cold coming on–and it is available in the supplement aisle of almost any grocery store. Of all the native plants that have made their way from the field to the medicine cabinet, this one is probably one of the most famous. When you see the word Echinacea, you probably think “cold remedy”.
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