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.

Echinacea simulata, wavy coneflower, is a beautiful native coneflower with thin, dainty petals. Bordering on the paler side of pink, it is a different look than the robust coneflower we are familiar with.

 

Finally, there is a new Echinacea purpureum I need to try. ‘Virgin’ looks very interesting. A favorite of Piet Oudolf, it has fragrant green-centered white daisy flowers that bloom over a long period.  The seed heads, which are loved by goldfinches, stand strong without staking through much of the winter.
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