Echinacea - For The Birds

This entry was written on Jan 03, 2009 by our Garden Guru Sheri Ann Richerson

Echinacea, also known as purple coneflower or simply coneflower now that there are so many color choices is a great native plant that should be in every garden. The brightly colored blooms make a big show in the garden especially if you plant in drifts. Butterflies seem to adore the plant as do bees. Even better the dried seedheads form a striking contrast in the winter against the snow. Goldfinches love to eat the dried seeds of Echinacea flowers. Depending on the variety, Echinacea can be started from seed using winter sowing techniques. Some of the newer varieties are tissue cultured however so they must be purchased or divided from a large clump. Once established, Echinacea is basically a carefree plant.