![]() The prickly seed heads are soft and pliable, they can be broken in half with your fingers and the seeds picked out.ĭividing every few years will keep them healthy. The seed can be difficult to harvest and are easiest after rain or early in the morning when they are wet from dew. If you want to harvest them cover with a net after the seed begins to form. Once they are established Echinacea will freely self-seed if some deadheads are left intact. Cut back stems as the blooms fade to encourage further flower production. These plants are easy to grow although, as with many perennials, they usually take more than one growing season to truly begin to flower. No additional fertilising is necessary as heavy fertilisation leads to tall, leggy plants that flop. Avoid over-watering as Echinacea prefer drier conditions once established. They are tolerant of drought, heat, humidity and poor soil. Grow in deep, well-drained, humus-rich soil ideally in full sun although they can tolerate some shade. Come back to it in spring, more seedlings may await!Ĭultivation Echinacea are generally low maintenance. Once you have picked out the remaining seedlings place the tray outdoors in a sheltered area for the winter. In their natural environment, the seeds would germinate after a period of cold, so if there is little or no germination move the tray to a cold area: at around 4☌ (39☏) for 2 to 4 weeks. Gradually acclimatise to outdoor conditions for 10 to 15 days before planting out. Plant out in spring into well drained soil. Prick out each seedling as it becomes large enough to handle, transplant into 7.5cm (3in) pots or trays to grow on. Germination may start after only 5 days but may take up to 20 days. The compost should be kept moist but not wet at all times. Seeds need light to germinate, so do not cover the seeds or use only a light sprinkling of vermiculite. Surface sow the seed and press lightly into the soil. Moisten by standing the pots in water, then drain. Sowing Indoors Sow at 20 to 24☌ (68 to 75☏), Fill pots or trays with a good seed starting mix (John Innes or similar). Echinacea will flower in 11 to 15 weeks so if started indoors early enough, it is possible to get flowers in the first season. Sowing Sow seeds in late winter to spring or in late summer to autumn. Although our products are listed in weights and acres, we can supply in additional quantities upon enquiry so if you need a larger supply, please don't hesitate to give us a call. Pretty Wild Seeds are registered with the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) under number 7529, so you can have confidence in both our products and advice. The dried seed heads also provide architectural interest in the winter. They are followed by attractive, long-lasting seedheads which provide winter food for finches and other birds. The flowers have a distinctive, sweet, fragrance that attracts bees and butterflies to their daisy-like blooms throughout summer. Another reason for its popularity is that they also make a particularly stylish cut flower. Amenable to being disposed in drifts and rivers, it is a striking sight en masse with its large purple-pink daisy flowers which appear over a long period from early July to September. Growing to a height of around 100cm (39in), with a spread of 60cm (24in), the slender elegance and robust stems give the plants good wind and weather resistance. The present high standing of this North American prairie plant is partly due to its being an important element in ‘new naturalism’ gardens. For gardeners, however, Echinacea purpurea is one of the most versatile perennials for the garden. With handsome, long-lasting flowers, it is sturdy and self-supporting, hardy, easy to grow, undemanding, suitable both for the formal border and the meadow look. ![]() To most people, echinacea conjures up a herbal remedy for colds and flu - a vital boost to the immune system or a piece of harmless quackery.
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