New Echinaceas
Who doesn’t love purple coneflowers? Echinacea, whose name comes from the Greek word for Hedgehog or sea urchin due to its spiny seed head, is a beautiful perennial that is loved by bees and other pollinators.As a beekeeper I always try to include them in any garden design. Many of us have the old favorites ‘Magnus’ or ‘White Swan’ but recently I have come across some that are a bit less well-known that I can’t wait to try.
Echinacea paradoxa, also known as Ozark coneflower, is the only yellow purple coneflower, hence the paradox! It’s a true prairie plant and can get tall so it will need some room.

A friend recently raved about Echinacea tennesseensis and after looking it up I can see why. Unlike most coneflowers, Tennessee coneflowers petals are upturned and quite beautiful. This is a less vigorous version of the species and is only found in the wild near Nashville TN.


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All echinaceas will prefer full sun and lean, well-drained soils. These are tough plants and in the end too much fussing over them could prove lethal.
Just another reason to love them!
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