Echinacea photo above courtesy of Karen Matthews Echinacea is a native of the plains and prairies of the USA. Originating in this tough environment gave Echinacea the deep-rooted traits of drought tolerance, long bloom, low maintenance and dependability. The blooms of Echinacea and the oblong, crinkly textured foliage on strong stems add a rugged striking beauty to gardens. Coneflower’s unique “hedge-hog” centers start out in early summer a bright lime green. As summer temperatures heat up, so do the cones. They change to a swollen, coppery-colored, intricately packed cone of birdseed. Soft petals surround the cones bringing an energetic vitality to summer gardens. The center cones and petal rays are...
Echinacea purpura – Coneflower
