Add this Native North American Plant to Your Garden!
You may be surprised to learn that our favorite native plant, coneflower (Echinacea), comes in many colors, shapes, and sizes. Here are seven varieties of this rugged pollinator magnet that we have planted over the years with success.
I have been feeling under the weather lately, and echinacea seems to be the only thing that seems to quiet my cough. This got me thinking about how much I love these coneflowers! I have always appreciated the plant for its durability. It is able to withstand hot, dry summers and is hardy enough to survive the coldest winters.
A native North American plant indigenous to the central plains, Echinacea purpurea is virtually indestructible. We enjoy the color it brings to the summer garden with its large, daisy-like, rosy purple petals surrounding a copper-colored, dome-shaped central seed head. There is also a yellow one called Echinacea paradoxa because of its unusual color.
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Depending on your climate, be aware that hybrid coneflowers may not last as long in the garden as the original, E. purpurea, which is proven to stand the test of time!
7 Coneflower Varieties
Plant breeders have been busy! We have more colors, shapes, and sizes to choose from. Here are seven varieties that I have planted in my garden.
- 鈥楽耻苍谤颈蝉别鈥 has pale yellow flowers with central cones that start out green and change to gold. Bright and showy, the flowers are 5鈥 across and very fragrant. The plants are 30-36 inches tall.
- 鈥楬arvest moon鈥 is a cross of E. purpurea and paradoxa that has golden-yellow flowers with orange cones. It is a heavy branching plant that bears 4鈥 wide flowers.
- 鈥楥heyenne Spirit鈥 is a mix of colors that can be easily grown from seed. They grow to be 18 to 30 inches tall.
- 鈥楪reen Envy鈥 has fat jade green petals with magenta veins. The center cones start out green and mature to a purple-brown. It grows to be 30 to 36 inches tall.
- 鈥楻补锄锄尘补迟补锄锄鈥 is considered to be the first double-flowering echinacea. Instead of a central cone, each flower has a dome covered with short petals surrounded by a skirt of longer, reflexed petals. It is a bright pink and grows 32 to 26 inches tall.
- 鈥楧辞耻产濒别诲别肠办别谤鈥 looks like it is wearing a hat. Imagine a purple coneflower with a second set of smaller petals growing from the top of the cone. Plants grow to about 40 inches tall.
- 鈥楰im鈥檚 Knee High鈥 is a compact-growing coneflower bearing rosy-pink flowers on an 18-inch-tall plant.
All these hybrids need the same care as regular coneflowers. They prefer full sun or morning sun and afternoon shade. Nutrient-rich, well-drained soil is optimum, but they will thrive in average soil, too. The flowers are great for cutting, lasting a week or more in a bouquet.
There are many, many more to choose from, so when plant shopping this spring, take a second look at coneflowers and add something new to your summer landscape.
See the 蜜桃恋人鈥檚 Coneflower Growing Guide for more information about when and how to plant these American natives!
Robin Sweetser
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Only true native wildflowers stand up to the worst nature has to offer and in my opinion our pollinators prefer natives to cultivars.
Love all the different types of coneflowers. I am trying to add only native plants to my yard. Do any of the varieties of coneflowers besides purpurea count as natives?
Only Purple Coneflower is native. The others are cultivars or hybrids. They will not have the same quality of nectar and pollen as the straight native. They may even be sterile giving nothing back to nature and the ecosystem鈥檚 pollinators. Plant for purpose not just for beauty alone.
Wow, such beautiful colors! It's nice to have an article to refer to that lists the best varieties. I love Purple Coneflower and am going to try planting "Green Envy" from seed. Do you think it will bloom this summer if planted now or would it bloom next year?
Are all varieties the same when it comes to medicinal properties? I love the variations, but want to grow them for medicine too.
