Millions of Americans now take pills or potions containing echinacea daily. The genus name is derived from a Greek word for hedgehog in reference to the spiny bracts that share the receptacle with the ray and disk florets. Long a favorite of Native Americans in treating snakebite, echinacea today is used in tablet and other forms to ward off colds and flus, and even to support the immune system. Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) of the Sunflower or Composite (Asteraceae) family is an erect herbaceous perennial with large, showy, terminal flowerheads. Under its botanical genus name, Echinacea, it has gained worldwide popularity as the No. But today, it has even further importance. This native perennial has vibrant magenta flowers which add contrast to the overwhelming yellows and reds of the summer garden. Once plants with their dark green, deeply-veined leaves are established, it can be the most important color-maker in a mature meadow in mid-season. It is tough, great for cutting, and one of our most beautiful native wildflowers.
Petals often droop down in an attractive way. Plants form a medium to tall clump of coarse dark-green leaves, by midsummer bearing large daisy flowers with mauve-purple to rose-pink petals surrounding an orange-brown central cone. With a flower that looks a lot like a large, pink black-eyed susan, purple coneflower has always been a star in plains plantings. Probably the most popular of our native wildflowers.
0 kommentar(er)
