Echinacea Growing Guide

Echinacea purpurea

Crop Rotation Group

Miscellaneous ●

Soil

Rich soil with a near neutral Ph.

Position

Full sun in cool climates, partial afternoon shade where summers are very hot.

Frost tolerant

Echinacea is a hardy perennial that survives very cold winters. Plants become dormant in winter and re-emerge in spring.

Feeding

Spread rich compost over the dormant plants each winter.

Spacing

Single Plants: 35cm (1' 1") each way (minimum)
Rows: 30cm (11") with 40cm (1' 3") row gap (minimum)

Sow and Plant

Start with purchased plants or sow directly in the garden from early spring onwards. Echinacea often does not bloom reliably until its second year in the garden.
Our Garden Planner can produce a personalized calendar of when to sow, plant and harvest for your area.

Notes

Echinacea is grown for its beautiful flowers and for the medicinal properties of teas and tinctures made from roots, leaves and flowers.

Harvesting

Dig plants up in early autumn to harvest the roots. Small divisions with skimpy root systems can be replanted and allowed to grow for another year. For enhancing immunity to colds, echinacea tinctures or teas are taken every few hours for several days.

Planting and Harvesting Calendar

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Pests which Affect Echinacea

Aphids (General)

Slug

Snail