Overview

Echinacea 'White Swan' is a perennial in the genus Echinacea, part of the Asteraceae family. Echinacea 'White Swan' grows best in full sun and partial shade, and tolerates most soils and any pH. Its UK hardiness is rated H5. Suggested uses include borders, cut flowers and pollinator gardens. It is native to Northwestern U.S.A., North-Central U.S.A., Southeastern U.S.A., Eastern Canada, South-Central U.S.A., Western Canada and Northeastern U.S.A..

About

Echinacea 'White Swan' is a named cultivar of coneflower in the family Asteraceae, valued for its large composite flower heads. It flowers from July to October. The genus is native to eastern and central North America and includes species adapted to wet-to-dry prairie and open-woodland habitats. The central disk of the flower is spiny, a feature echoed in the genus name derived from Greek.

About the genus

Echinacea is a genus of herbaceous flowering plants in the daisy family. It has ten species, which are commonly called coneflowers. They are native only in eastern and central North America, where they grow in wet to dry prairies and open wooded areas.

Wikipedia contributors, "Echinacea", CC BY-SA 4.0 — Echinacea

In the garden

Echinacea 'White Swan' belongs to the genus Echinacea within the daisy family Asteraceae and is one of several coneflower cultivars grown for their summer display. The wild members of the genus are native to eastern and central North America and naturally occur in habitats ranging from moist prairies to drier open woods and grasslands, which explains their tolerance of a broad moisture range. Choose an open site where the flower heads can be seen; plants that originate from prairie and open-woodland settings perform best with good air movement rather than deep shade. Soils that drain reasonably well yet retain some moisture suit these plants because the genus occupies both wet and dry sites in the wild. No specialist soil is required, but avoid compacted waterlogged ground. Echinacea 'White Swan' blooms from July to October, making it useful for summer into autumn interest in perennial borders, meadow-style schemes and mixed plantings where larger flower heads are wanted. Gardeners commonly cultivate Echinacea for those showy composite heads; the spiny central disk — the reason the genus name relates to a hedgehog — gives each spent flower head structural interest late in the season.

Growing conditions

Best soil and position for Echinacea

Sunlight

full sun, partial shade

Soil type

well-drained, sandy, loamy

Soil pH

neutral, slightly acidic, slightly alkaline

Soil moisture

medium, well-drained

UK hardiness

H5

Plant details

Echinacea 'White Swan' size, habit and characteristics

Plant type

perennial

Suggested uses

borders, cut flowers, pollinator gardens

Native to

Northwestern U.S.A., North-Central U.S.A., Southeastern U.S.A., Eastern Canada, South-Central U.S.A., Western Canada, Northeastern U.S.A.

Care notes

Pruning and caring for Echinacea 'White Swan'

Cultivation

Plant in well-drained soil with full sun to partial shade. Avoid waterlogged conditions. Deadhead spent flowers to encourage prolonged blooming.

Pruning

Remove spent flower heads to promote further blooming; cut back in late autumn or early spring.

Propagation

division, seed

Frequently asked questions

More in the Echinacea genus

• 
  Echinacea 'Bright Star'Coneflower
• 
  Echinacea pallida 'Hula Dancer'Pale Purple Coneflower
• 
  Echinacea purp. 'Green Jewel'
• 
  Echinacea purp. 'Magnus Superior'Coneflower
• 
  Echinacea purp. 'Magnus'Coneflower
• 
  Echinacea purp. 'Primadonna Deep Pink'Coneflower
• 
  Echinacea purpurea dark-stemmedPurple Coneflower
• Echinacea 'Coral Reef'PBR