Grow Echinacea purpurea – Bold Summer Colour and Pollinator Power

Echinacea purpurea, also known as purple coneflower, is a stunning perennial that brings bold structure and long-lasting colour to borders, beds, and wildflower-style plantings. With large, daisy-like blooms in shades of rich purple surrounding coppery-orange central cones, this variety is a magnet for bees and butterflies all summer long.

Easy to grow and highly resilient once established, it produces strong stems that are perfect for cutting, making it a favourite for fresh arrangements. This is a brilliant choice for adding height, texture, and wildlife appeal to your garden year after year.

Growing Conditions

Echinacea purpurea thrives in full sun and is tolerant of most soil types, including poorer ground, once established. Its deep taproot makes it drought-tolerant and ideal for low-maintenance spaces or pollinator gardens. It can be grown as a hardy perennial in much of the UK, returning each year with minimal care.

Planting Guide

Sowing Indoors: Sow seeds from February to April in trays of moist seed compost. Lightly cover and place somewhere warm with temperatures around 20°C (68°F). Germination can take 14–21 days.
Transplanting: When seedlings are large enough to handle, pot them on individually and harden off before planting out after the last frost.
Direct Sowing: Alternatively, sow outdoors from late April to June in a prepared seedbed. Thin seedlings to their final positions.
Spacing: Space plants 30–45 cm apart in full sun for best flowering.

Care & Maintenance

Watering: Water regularly while young. Once established, Echinacea is drought-tolerant and prefers drier conditions.
Feeding: Not usually necessary in fertile soil.
Deadheading: Remove faded flowers to encourage repeat blooming. Leave some seed heads to dry in late summer if you want to attract birds.
Support: Strong stems usually don’t require staking, but plants in windy spots may benefit from light support.
Perennial Notes: In its first year, plants may establish foliage with fewer flowers. Flowering increases from the second year onward.

Flowering & Cut Flower Tips

Echinacea purpurea blooms from July to September, providing weeks of colour. Its strong stems and distinctive flowers make it excellent for cutting. Pick when flowers are fully open for the longest vase life. Also works beautifully dried.

Garden Impact

This variety brings natural charm and structure to sunny beds, prairie-style plantings, or wildlife gardens. Its nectar-rich flowers attract bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects, making it a strong performer for pollinator-friendly gardens. Combine with grasses or other perennials for a long-lasting, informal display.