Growing Purple Coneflower Garden Seeds
How to Grow Purple Coneflower from Seed
Easily grown in average, medium, well-drained soil in full sun. An adaptable plant that is tolerant of drought, heat, humidity, and poor soil. Plants usually re-bloom without deadheading, however, immediate removal of spent flowers improves general appearance.
Sow the seed at about 1/4" in the early to mid-spring. Keep moist. Once the plants are up, thin to 1 foot spacing after the second set of leaves has formed. Purple Coneflower likes full sun, plenty of water, rich, well-drained, and limey soil.
Freely self-seeds if at least some of the seed heads are left in place. Makes a good fresh cut or dried flower. The dead flower stems will remain erect well into the winter and, if flower heads are not removed, are often visited by goldfinches. Echinacea is derived from the Greek word "echinos" meaning hedgehog in reference to the spiny center cone.
Purple Coneflower Echinacea Herb Growing Habits
Non-GMO (Echinacea purpurea) Purple Coneflower Echinacea plants grow as warm-season flowering herbs. As perennials, this popular wildflower variety will develop upright as tall and vibrant with daisy-like flowers on slender green stems reaching 4" tall. Once your echinacea reaches full maturity in either late spring or the following year to harvest the root, your plants will grow fuchsia-colored petals bold with a sweet flavor. Purple Coneflower provides a tingly, floral taste. Reap the medicinal benefits of echinacea flowers during its summer blooming season or just before winter.
Medicinal Benefits of Purple Coneflower Garden Herb
Echinacea has traditionally been used to treat or prevent colds, flu, and other infections. Echinacea is believed to stimulate the immune system to help fight infections. Less commonly, echinacea has been used for wounds and skin problems. Purple Coneflower Echinacea crops were grown by Native American Plains Tribes and often used as an herbal remedy to relieve pain or aid the common cold, sore throat, flu, and skin irritations.
There are many soothing ways to use purple echinacea herbs and even in the luxury of your own home. You can easily steep the fresh or dried leaves and sweet-tasting petals of echinacea to make a tingly herbal tea. Purple Coneflower Echinacea is also a popular herb to drop into a relaxing bubble bath or foot soak. You can also aid stress and regulate blood pressure by using Purple Coneflower Echinacea as aromatherapy. Echinacea as an essential oil is still a common method that people use to naturally decrease tension, as its bold floral scent helps ease anxiety and boosts relaxation.
