Purple Coneflower

Purple coneflower continues to be one of the most popular medicinal herbs. That was one reason it was chosen as herb of the year several years ago.

In our gardens, there are many landscape uses for purple coneflower. It is suitable for wildflower meadows, perennial borders, and beds. Because it is several feet tall, it is best used at the back of borders. Purple coneflower also makes a nice specimen plant.

Purple coneflower is lovely when it is combined with other sun-loving perennials like Russian sage, gayfeather, and ornamental grasses.

When buying purple coneflower plants or seeds, remember there are numerous cultivars available. The flower color can vary greatly from one to another. There are white-flowered cultivars, but the ordinary species has pinkish-purple blooms. In my opinion, they aren't truly purple.

Cultivars available include 'Bravado' with large, rosy-red blooms, 'Robert Bloom' with reddish-purple flowers, and 'Bright Star' with drooping, rose pink petals. 'Springbrook Crimson Star' has crimson blooms and bronzy foliage.

Several white-blooming purple coneflowers are sold in catalogs and stores. These include 'White Swan' with nearly white petals surrounding the brown center. 'White Lustre' has off-white, reflexed petals.

If you need a dwarf variety, look for 'Kim's Knee High'. This was introduced by Niche Gardens in Chapel Hill. It should only be about 1½ feet in height.

Purple coneflower has a particularly long bloom period, about six weeks. After it has finished flowering, I never deadhead the plants because I know the birds like to eat the seeds. I prefer to let the stalks stand throughout the fall and winter until I know they've eaten their share.

If you want any of the cultivars, you'll have to buy plants because these are usually propagated vegetatively.

I grow the ordinary species from seed. It helps if you refrigerate them for a couple weeks or even longer. Otherwise, they don't germinate as well. The other way is to plant them outside in the fall, and assume there is enough cold weather over the winter to give them the cold treatment they need.

My experience with purple coneflower is that it is very easy to grow. I like it because it attracts hummingbirds and butterflies to the garden. However, a lot of people do use it medicinally.

Should you decide to use it to guard against infections, do so for only a few weeks at a time. Otherwise, experts say it might possibly have a bad effect on your immune system.

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