Let It Grow
By Tammy Thornton
Attractive to both pollinators and birds, purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) is a must-have in the garden. Despite the name, these easy-to-grow perennials look like pink (not purple) daisies with prickly centers. In the spring, the leaves of the dormant plant will begin to emerge from the ground. By summer, you will have beautiful flowers that last until fall.
Once established, purple coneflowers are drought resistant. They will flower best in a well-drained, full-sun location in the garden, making them perfect for our hot summers and sandy South Jersey soil. Though I enjoy their colorful flowers all summer, one of my favorite things about purple coneflowers happens once their bloom season has come to a close. As the petals fall, the spiky seed head dries out, giving it the look of thistle. You can see why the name of this plant comes from the Greek word for hedgehog or sea urchin (echinos). Not only do the interesting seed heads provide interest in the garden and allow the plant to self-seed, but American Goldfinches (New Jersey’s state bird) will visit your garden to eat the seeds. I love watching these colorful yellow and black birds balancing on the dried seed heads while pulling at the seeds with their beaks. Even late in the season, as most of the flowers are finished, you will see some lingering blooms among the seed heads. The combination of colors from the flowers plus the vibrant yellow and black birds makes a lovely, colorful picture as our thoughts turn to fall.
Sometimes the same garden names are used for different flowers, causing some confusion. Another flower also referred to as coneflower can be seen in gardens all over South Jersey this time of year. Most people will recognize black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia hirta) and other flowers in the rudbeckia family. Personally, I prefer the colors of echinacea that also come in shades of red, orange, yellow, and white. Razzmatazz is a fun variety of purple echinacea with showy double flowers that look like pom poms in a purple-magenta color. One of my favorite flowers to plant near purple coneflower is Russian sage. The soft billowy lilac-colored flowers of Russian sage provide a dreamy backdrop for the sturdy pink and thistle-like echinacea, making a lovely combination.
Shore Local News would love to hear about your gardens and favorite flowers. Please send your questions, comments, and pictures to:
shorelocalgardener@gmail.com.
Tammy Thornton is a mom of four, a substitute teacher, and a Sunday school teacher. She is passionate about gardening and cooking, and loves the beach.
