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Botanical Name:Echinacea purpurea
eh-kih-NAY-shah per-per-EE-ah
Common Name: Purple coneflower
Synonyms: Rudbeckia purpurea
Genus:
Echinacea
This classic garden perennial is an eastern US native that is a staple in American gardens. It grows to 5 feet tall and 2 feet wide with both basal and stem leaves that are bright green and lance-shaped. Its 6-inch-wide flowers are a combination of deep pink rays and a tall, golden brown, spiky disk, and they appear in midsummer and keep going into midfall.
Noteworthy characteristics:
The flowers attract bees and butterflies while in bloom. If the cones are left intact in winter, birds dine on the seeds.
Care:
Grow in deep, well-drained soil in full sun. It is tolerant of drought, heat, humidity, and poor soils. Cut back stems to promote more flowering and reduce excessive self-seeding. Deadheading prolongs flowering.
Propagation:
Sow seed in spring. Divide clumps in spring every 3 to 4 years. Take root cuttings from autumn to early winter.
Problems:
Leaf miners, powdery mildew, bacterial spots, and gray mold. Vine weevils may feed on roots.
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Photo/Illustration: Jennifer Benner