About

An upright perennial to 60cm with branched stems supporting rough, hairy leaves. The solitary red flower-heads, produced from early to late summer, have a large central cone of double disc florets surrounded by short, strongly reflexed ray florets.

About the genus

Echinacea are erect, clump-forming rhizomatous perennials with simple or pinnately lobed leaves and solitary, long-stalked daisies with prominent conical central disks and often drooping ray florets; attractive to butterflies

Growing conditions

SunlightFull sun, Partial shade
Soil typeChalk, Loam, Sand
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureWell-drained
AspectSouth-facing, East-facing, West-facing
ExposureExposed, Sheltered
UK hardinessH5

Plant details

Plant typeHerbaceous Perennial
HabitClump forming
FoliageDeciduous
Height0.5-1 metres
Spread0.1-0.5 metres
Time to full height2-5 years
Suggested usesCottage and informal garden, Prairie planting

Care notes

CultivationGrow in deep, well-drained, humus-rich soil ideally in full sun although they can tolerate some shade
PruningCut back stems as the blooms fade to encourage further flower production
PropagationPropagate by division in spring or autumn although they resent a lot of disturbance, or by root cuttings from late autumn to early winter
Pest resistanceGenerally pest-free
Disease resistanceGenerally disease-free