Echinacea Purpurea

Echinacea Purpurea has bold, crimson-purple flowers with prominent central cones, standing out nicely against its rough, deep green leaves. These large, daisy-like blooms are long-lasting and full of nectar, making them a favourite with bees, butterflies, and other pollinators.

🌸 Flowering: July to September.

📏 Height: 90-120cm

🌿Perennial (short lived)

SOW & GROW
Sow seeds in May in pots or modules. Cover them with a bit of perlite or vermiculite and pop them in a cold frame. Once the seedlings are big enough to handle, prick them out into their own pots and keep them growing until they’re ready to plant out in September or October.

These are hungry plants, so it’s worth digging in some compost before planting. Space them out at about 45–60cm apart and give them a sunny spot.

Deadhead spent flowers to keep the blooms coming and encourage even deeper colour. At the end of the season, cut back the stems, and once they’re well-established, you can divide the clumps in spring to keep them going strong.

WILDLIFE FRIENDLY

• A magnet for pollinators like honeybees, Red-tailed bumblebees, and solitary bees such as the Wool Carder bee.
• Butterflies including Small Tortoiseshells and Peacocks often stop by for nectar.
• Leave the seed heads standing into autumn and goldfinches will feed on them.
• Listed by the RHS as a top pollinator plant.