• Echinacea purpurea
  • Echinacea purpurea
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Echinacea purpurea

Purple Coneflower

£8.99
£8.99
Echinacea purpurea, or purple coneflower, is a hardy, long-flowering perennial producing bold, daisy-like purple blooms with prominent orange-brown centres, ideal for attracting bees, butterflies, and birds.
  • Highly attractive to pollinators
  • Drought-tolerant and low-maintenance
  • Striking cut flowers with winter seed heads
Size

    • Aspect

      Full sun

    • Hardiness

      Hardy

    • Flowers

      July, August, September

    • Soil type

      Well-drained, Loamy, Chalky

    Echinacea purpurea
    Echinacea purpurea

    • Why we like this plant

      Echinacea purpurea is a must-have for wildlife-friendly gardens, offering striking beauty, excellent drought tolerance, and valuable nectar for pollinators. Its long-lasting flowers and architectural seed heads provide year-round interest.

    • About this plant

      A classic prairie wildflower, Echinacea purpurea is a robust and adaptable perennial known for its striking pinkish-purple petals that gracefully droop from a central, spiky cone. Blooming from midsummer to early autumn, this tough plant thrives in sunny, well-drained locations, making it perfect for wildlife gardens, cottage-style borders, and prairie plantings. Its nectar-rich flowers are highly attractive to pollinators, while the seed heads provide winter food for birds. Drought-tolerant once established, it is a reliable and low-maintenance choice for adding colour and structure to the garden.

    • Key features

      • Large, purple-pink flowers with a raised orange-brown cone
      • Long flowering season from midsummer to early autumn
      • Attracts bees, butterflies, and seed-eating birds
      • Highly drought-tolerant once established
      • Excellent for cut flowers and dried arrangements

    • Height and
      spread

    • Growth
      habit

      Upright, clump-forming

    • Moisture

      Moderate watering; drought-tolerant once established

    • Position in
      the Garden

      Borders, prairie gardens, wildlife-friendly planting, cottage gardens

    Planting guide

    • Space plants 30–45cm apart for good air circulation
    • Ensure well-drained soil to prevent root rot
    • Works well in mixed perennial borders and prairie-style plantings

    Care tips

    • Plant in full sun and well-drained soil
    • Water regularly during establishment, then sparingly
    • Deadhead spent flowers to encourage prolonged blooming
    • Cut back stems in late autumn or leave seed heads for birds
    • Divide clumps every 3–4 years to maintain vigour

    Winter care

    • Leave seed heads intact to provide winter interest and bird food
    • Mulch lightly in autumn to protect roots in colder regions
    • Cut back dead stems in early spring