Coneflower

Echinacea purpurea Elton Knight

• Position: full sun
• Soil: any soil type except boggy
• Rate of growth: average
• Flowering period: July to September
• Hardiness: fully hardy
  
  This is a new, slightly later-flowering variety of coneflower which has recently been given the Award of Garden Merit by the Royal Horticultural Society. It has pretty pinky-purple, daisy-like flowers with reflexed petals from late July into the autumn. It's a tough plant that does not need staking, and, like other coneflowers, is long-flowering and will cope well with adverse weather conditions, except drought. Try it dotted through a sunny, mixed border or in bold drifts among grasses where it will extend the season of interest. It is attractive to bees and butterflies, and birds will flock to the seedheads.

• Garden care: Lift and divide congested colonies in autumn or spring. In autumn cut back all dead flower stems to the ground. Coneflowers benefit from a spring or autumn mulch with well-rotted compost.

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