Echinacea

ECHINACEA (ek-i-nay’-she-ah). A genus of native perennials of the Composite Family, closely related to Rudbeckia, of bushy growth with showy, daisy-like flower-heads ofter 6 in. across, with raised bronzy centers. A fine source of cut flowers and for bold landscape effects, giving two months or more of bloom. They like rich, sandy loam and thrive in dry or exposed spots. Spring-sown seed will give bloom the following year ; clumps may be divided but this should not be done too often. One of three genera called Cone-flower this one gets its botanical name from a Greek word for hedgehog, suggested by its bristly seed heads.

Echinacea angustifolia, to 2 ft., has leaves lance-shaped and heads light purple with dark disk flowers often 1 in. high. Echinacea pallida, to 3 ft., has rose-purple or white flowers with long, drooping rays. Echinacea purpurea (Purple Coneflower), to 5 ft., has broad, oval leaves, and purplish-rose to white flowers also with drooping rays.

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