Last updated on October 23rd, 2023 at 08:41 pm
Purple coneflower is not only a low-maintenance plant for the private garden, but also very popular with butterflies and bees. How to plant this beautiful perennial, you can read here.
Purple coneflower, with scientific name Echinacea purpurea, is a garden perennial and belongs to the family of composite plants. Characteristic of the plant is the “hedgehog head” in the middle of the flower, which is usually dark red in color. Originally the plant comes from North America, in this country it is grown as an ornamental plant.
By the way, purple coneflower is a real insect favorite. Especially butterflies and bees love to visit the flowers of the perennial.
Purple coneflower: location and planting.
As its name suggests, purple coneflower prefers a sunny spot in your garden. Although it will also thrive in partial shade, its blooms will be much less abundant there. It also does best in nutrient-rich, well-drained, loose soil.
The best time to plant purple coneflower is in spring between April and May. It is important to make sure there is no more frost. So if you live in a colder region, it’s better to wait until May.
- Planting is very simple. First, dig a planting hole twice the size of the plant’s root ball. If you want to plant several purple coneflowers, you should leave about 30 to 40 centimeters between each hole.
- If necessary, you can enrich the excavation. Use humus for additional nutrients or sand for more permeability.
- Then place the purple coneflower upright and centered in the hole.
- Fill the excavated soil into the hole and tread it carefully so that the plant stands on its own.
- Water the purple coneflower generously.
- Did you know. Purple coneflower grows up to three feet tall.
Caring for purple coneflower: tips and tricks
Purple coneflower is one of the easiest perennials to care for in the garden once it is well established. You don’t have to pay much attention to its care:
- Water the perennial when it’s hot and dry for extended periods of time. If purple coneflower is near a garden pond or other body of water, you don’t necessarily need to water it additionally.
- As for fertilizing, you can be sparing. Too much fertilizer tends to harm the purple coneflower. A good fertilizer is, for example, compost. In spring, you can spread a little of it around the plant and work it lightly into the soil. Tip: Nettle manure is also a good alternative.
- Withered flowers should be removed regularly. After flowering in October, you can cut off the purple coneflower about a hand’s width above the ground. This will encourage vigorous budding in the following year.