1. Patrick Greenwald 2014
There is nothing quite so hauntingly beautiful as hiking past a rock escarpment covered in
Echinacea simulata or a grassy meadow scattered with the Echinacea purpurea on a humid
stormy overcast afternoon in June. Echinacea (coneflowers) are truly iconic of the great
American countryside. Native to glades and prairies of the Midwest and Eastern United States,
they add beauty to any landscape, tolerating the hot summers of the south and cold winters of the
north (plant hardiness zone 4-8).
From the prairies to our backyard gardens, Echinacea purpurea for many years have graced sun
gardens throughout the country. When I first began interning at a local nursery back home, I
cared for Echinacea ‘Magnus, and ‘Ruby Star’, old standby cultivars in the perennial gardener’s
palate. But what a difference a few years have made. Plant breeding has led to a plethora of
colorful cultivars with varying growth habits. Colors range from pure white and rosy purple to
vibrant fire engine red.
The Echinacea cultivars commonly available at nurseries and garden centers are hybrids and
cultivars of Echinacea purpurea. Each plant produces numerous composite bristly cone like disk
flowers surrounded by a vibrant rim of ray flowers, each lasting weeks on end.
Echinacea: an all American native perennial

2. Patrick Greenwald 2014
Eachinacea purpurea is one of the most useful perennials for sun gardens. I have grown these
on the edge of a rain garden and in A dry, hot site. Once established, these plants tolerate
neglect. In fact, they only require well drained garden soil, plenty of sun, and an annual layer of
hardwood mulch for soil moisture retention. Avoid over fertilizing to limit leggy, excessive
stretched growth. Clemson University recommends lightly fertilizing Echinacea species with an
all-purpose 12-6-6 (Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium) in the spring when plants are beginning to
break dormancy. From experience, Echinacea prefers a full sun location, but tolerates part shade,
and does well planted near roadsides, along a woodland border, and in moist soil. Since some of
the hybrids on the market today have Echinacea paradoxa and other Echinacea species which
thrive in dryer, rockier soil structure, it is best to plant these hybrids in well-drained soil which
does not stay too wet in winter to limit root rot.
We at Pender Nursery have some beautiful Echinacea
available. ‘White Swan’, grows up to 3 feet tall,
producing bountiful pure white flowers with a center
orange cone. ‘Kim’s Knee High’ is a shorter growing
variety, at 24 inches tall, and has been blooming profusely
with vibrant rose pink flowers. But the standout Echinacea
this year has been those in the Sombrero series, ‘Lemon
Yellow’ and ‘Hot Coral,’ whose names say it all…just
beautiful!
Coneflowers are usually a pest free perennial if grown in
the proper environment. But there are a few pests which
can become an issue at different times of the year,
depending on the weather. In cool wet summers, powdery
mildew can present a problem. The grey-white fuzzy
growth on the surface of the usually deep green leaves of
Echinacea are actually the fungi mycelium (fungi body)
growing over the surface of the leaf as if extracts nutrients from within the leaf structure. The
best way to control powdery mildew is through increasing the airflow around the plants. This can
be accomplished by dividing perennials every 4 years to limit overlapping foliage which creates
a great location for the fungi to develop.
Another common disease of coneflowers is called Asters Yellows which can affect everything
from carrots to Rudbeckia and dandelions. This disease is caused by a phytoplasma (a bacterium
without a cell wall) and is transmitted by the piercing sucking mouthparts of leafhoppers. The
classic symptom of Asters Yellows disease is deform branching of the flower heads called
witches brooms. It is truly an odd disease, simply causing abnormal growth on a seemingly
normal plant without directly killing it. Since there is no cure, it is best controlled by removing
diseased plants immediately. Removing weeds such as dandelions which can harbor the disease
will also help with its control.
This tough perennial ads texture and height contrast to the perennial sun garden. Try planting
Kim’s Knee High’ with a backdrop of Russian sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia) for a stunning

3. Patrick Greenwald 2014
contrast of color. Butterflies adore coneflowers, being a valuable nectar source. As an added
bonus, the spent ‘cones’ are a favorite seed source of goldfinches. Look for blooming Pender
grown Echinacea at a garden center near you.
12345
1
http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=c580
2
Armitage, Allan. ‘Herbaceous Perennial Plants 2nd
ed. 1997. 369-373
3
http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/gardens-gardening/your-garden/help-for-the-home-gardener/advice-
tips-resources/pests-and-problems/diseases/viruses/aster-yellows.aspx
4
http://www.clemson.edu/extension/hgic/pests/plant_pests/flowers/hgic2049.html
5
http://www.clemson.edu/extension/hgic/plants/pdf/hgic1153.pdf