August's Plant of the Month
Our plant of the month for August is Echinacea! An easy-to-grow and reliable addition to any flower bed. Available in a variety of colours, you can fill your beds and borders with Echinaceas and enjoy vibrant flowering throughout the later summer months.
What are Echinacea plants?
Part of the daisy/sunflower family, Echinacea flowers are often referred to as “coneflowers”. Usually white or pink, but available in many colours, they make a beautiful addition to any garden and are popular for the “Prairie Garden” trend. A hardy perennial, you can enjoy them returning and blooming year after year.
Origin: North America Characteristics: Daisy-shaped colourful flower heads with petals that fan out initially and then droop into a shuttlecock shape
Preferred neighbours: Other late-flowering perennials.
Top Tip: Make sure your Echinaceas don’t dry out during hot weather
Fun fact: Their name derives from a Greek word that roughly translates to “sea urchin” and refers to the shape of their central disk.
Is Echinacea easy to grow? Yes, they are easy to grow from seeds and are considered to be hardy perennials. Although they may not flower in their first year of growth, once established they will return year after year with more impressive blooms. They can be prone to powdery mildew, you can read our guide here to find out more.
When does Echinacea flower? They flower later in the summer and in the early Autumn, perfect for keeping some colour in your garden later in the season.
Are Echinaceas good for wildlife? Yes, they are great for attracting bees and other pollinators. They also produce nutritious seedheads for wild birds. Whilst deadheading throughout the flowering season will encourage more growth, leave the flower heads in the autumn so they can provide local birds with seedheads.
Did you know? Echinacea has no known toxic effects and is perfect for child-friendly and pet-friendly gardens.
A little History…
Echinacea has been widely used in herbal medicine throughout history, across the globe. Although there is no evidence for its health benefits, it is still widely used today in supplements for cold prevention.
