Echinacea - Purple Coneflower
Echinacea, also known as purple coneflower, is a perennial, but these flowers can also be grown as annuals if you live in a colder zone. The plant is native to North America and can be found growing wild in meadows, prairies, and open woodlands. Coneflower is also an important source of nectar for pollinators, such as bees and butterflies. In addition to its medical uses, echinacea is often grown for its ornamental value in outdoor gardens.
- Medicinal Uses - Echinacea is an edible wildflower that is known for its immune-supporting properties. It is commonly used as an herbal natural health supplement, especially when brewed as herbal tea during cold and flu season.
- Showy Blooms - Echinacea, also known as coneflower, produces a gorgeous purple-colored flower with a cone-shaped center. It attracts pollinators like bees and butterflies. These plants are adaptable to drought and are a sustainable gardening favorite.
- Cold Stratify for Better Germination - For best results, recreate winter conditions to prime the seeds for planting. For indoor seed starting, sprinkle seeds into a damp paper towel, roll up, and store in the refrigerator for 2-3 weeks, then sow as usual. Stratification encourages seeds to sprout, giving you more young seedlings to become healthy plants.
