Echinacea purpurea

La equinácea púrpura — una robusta perenne de pradera con grandes flores parecidas a la margarita, cuyos pétalos rosa-morado se curvan hacia atrás desde un cono naranja erizado.
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Echinacea purpurea — the purple coneflower

Echinacea purpurea is the botanical name for the purple coneflower, a robust, long-lived prairie perennial crowned with large, daisy-like flowers whose rosy-purple petals sweep back from a prominent, bristly orange cone. It is the species behind our echinacea range within the flower seed collection.

History & origin

Native to the prairies and open woodland of central and eastern North America, the purple coneflower was long used by Native American peoples and later became one of the most popular of all garden perennials, valued equally for its toughness, its long flowering and its draw for wildlife.

The genus name Echinacea comes from the Greek echinos, meaning hedgehog or sea urchin, a nod to the spiny central cone, while purpurea simply means purple.

Botanical characteristics

A clump-forming perennial reaching around a metre, it bears stout stems topped with solitary flowers up to 12 cm across over a long midsummer-to-autumn season. The raised central cone is rich in nectar and seed, making it a magnet for bees and butterflies — hence its place among our pollinator flowers — while the strong stems and long vase life also make it a fine cut flower, and the seed heads feed finches into winter.

Growing Echinacea purpurea from seed

Sow in spring in warmth, barely covering the seed; a period of cool, moist stratification can improve and even out germination. Grow on and plant into full sun and well-drained soil, where established plants are notably drought-tolerant. It usually flowers from its second year, then returns dependably. Our flower growing guide and flower sowing calendar cover the timing.

Ready to grow coneflowers? Browse the varieties or learn the basics first.

Related categories: Echinacea · Perennial Flowers · Pollinator Flowers · Cut Flowers · All Flower Seeds

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¿Qué es Echinacea purpurea?
Es el nombre botánico de la equinácea de flor púrpura, una resistente y longeva perenne de las praderas norteamericanas, cultivada por sus margaritas de cono central en tonos rosa-morado. ¿Cómo puedo mejorar la germinación a partir de semilla?
Siembra en primavera con calor y cubre apenas la semilla; un período de estratificación fría y húmeda previo ayuda a uniformizar la germinación. ¿Cuándo florece a partir de semilla?
Las plantas suelen florecer a partir del segundo año, y luego regresan con fidelidad cada verano durante muchas temporadas. ¿Es buena para la fauna la equinácea?
Mucho — los conos ricos en néctar atraen abejas y mariposas, y las cabezuelas con semillas maduras alimentan a los pinzones durante el invierno.