Hang the plants to dry or remove the leaves and the petals from the flowers and lay them out to dry out of direct sunlight in a well-ventilated place.įlowers: Cut the stem just below the top set of leaves. Leaves: Cut the stem just above the first set of bottom leaves. Let them dry completely, which can take a few weeks, and then store them in an airtight container. Clean the roots and cut them into smaller pieces. Roots: Using a garden fork or shovel, dig up the plants to remove the entire root system. Transplant into the garden, spacing 12-15 inches apart. Once sprouts appear, provide bright light. Keep the soil moist at 65-70 degrees F and in the dark until germination, which may take 10-20 days. Cover the seeds lightly with a 1/4-inch soil mix. Transplanting: Sow echinacea seeds indoors in flats or pots filled with potting soil or seed starting mix 8-10 weeks before outdoor planting in spring. Place the container in full sunlight and keep the soil moist but not soggy. Scatter seeds on the surface and lightly cover them with more moist potting soil. In containers: Fill a container with moist potting soil. Scatter seeds and cover lightly with ¼ inch dusting of soil and pat down. In the garden: Sow seeds late fall-early winter for germination the following spring. Although echinacea is drought-tolerant, plants produce better blooms when the soil is consistently moist. Alternatively, plant in late fall-early winter for natural stratification to get germination the following spring. This can be accomplished artificially by wrapping the seeds in a wet paper towel, placing them in a sealable plastic bag, and putting them into the refrigerator for four weeks. The seeds require stratification, which is a cold, moist period. General requirements: The Purple Coneflower thrives best in nutrient-rich, well-draining soils, and a sunny location. Interesting facts: The only major pest with which the purple coneflower has difficulty is the Japanese beetle. They can also be used for tinctures and salves to apply topically to wounds and skin problems. Usage: The petals, roots, and leaves are edible, commonly dried, and steeped into teas. Origin: Native to eastern and central North America The flowers are easy-to-grow, hardy, resistant to heat and drought, have a long-flowering season, and attract beneficial pollinators, including bees, butterflies, and birds. The plants typically grow in dense clusters. When mature, the large cone of disk flowers becomes a seed head with sharp spines. Description: Echinacea has tall (up to 3 feet), strong, fibrous stems that bear large single flowers with pink or purple petals that generally curve downward and a central cone that is usually purple or brown.
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