Echinacea
Echinacea purpurea
Echinacea (coneflower) is a striking North American prairie perennial that's become hugely popular in UK gardens for its bold, daisy-like flowers and exceptional value to pollinating insects. The classic species, E. purpurea, produces large flowers with drooping, rich pink-purple petals surrounding a prominent, spiny, copper-orange central cone from July to September. The flowers are magnets for bees and butterflies, and the seed heads provide food for goldfinches through winter — leave them standing rather than cutting back in autumn. Modern cultivars offer a rainbow of colours: 'White Swan' (pure white), 'Magnus' (deep pink, RHS AGM), 'Green Jewel' (lime green), and the 'SunSeekers' series in coral, orange, and raspberry. However, the newer, fancy-coloured hybrids can be less reliably perennial in UK conditions — the straight species and established cultivars like 'Magnus' are the safest bet. Plant in full sun in well-drained soil — they're drought-tolerant once established and thrive in poor, sandy soil. Avoid rich, heavy, or waterlogged conditions which cause crown rot over winter. They're excellent in gravel gardens, prairie-style plantings, and mixed borders. Space 45cm apart and don't divide too frequently — they resent root disturbance.
Plan where to grow Echinacea using our vegetable garden planner.
When to Sow Echinacea
Sow echinacea in February, March, April, September. It flowers from July to September.
Time to Flower Echinacea
Expect flowers approximately 5 months after sowing.
Companion Plants for Echinacea
- Rudbeckia
A classic prairie-style pairing: both like sun and well-drained soil, flower together in late summer and are loved by bees and butterflies.
Expected Yield
Ornamental — flowers July to September; outstanding pollinator plant; seed heads feed goldfinches.
Growing Tips
Leave seed heads for birds; drought-tolerant once established
Pruning Echinacea
Deadhead early blooms to encourage more flowers, but leave the later seed heads standing over winter for birds and structure. Cut the dead stems down to the base in late winter or early spring.
Common Problems with Echinacea
Crown rot over winter
The most common cause of death in UK gardens. Heavy, waterlogged soil causes the crown to rot over winter. Ensure excellent drainage — add generous amounts of grit at planting time. Avoid mulching right up against the crown. Raised beds and gravel gardens provide ideal conditions. Don't cut back old growth until spring.
Aster yellows (phytoplasma)
Flowers develop bizarre, distorted green growth instead of normal petals and cones. Caused by a phytoplasma spread by leafhoppers — there's no cure. Remove and destroy affected plants immediately to prevent spread. Buy plants from reputable nurseries and control leafhopper populations where possible.
Slug damage on emerging shoots
Young shoots emerging in spring are vulnerable to slug damage, especially in damp conditions. Protect with organic slug pellets or copper barriers in early spring. Once stems are 15–20cm tall and toughening up, slug damage is rarely a problem.
Echinacea: common questions
When should I sow echinacea in the UK?
Sow echinacea in February–April and September. Sow under cover (a greenhouse, windowsill or heated propagator) and plant out once the weather has warmed.
How far apart should I plant echinacea?
Space echinacea about 45cm apart. It grows to around 90cm tall.
How long does echinacea take to germinate?
Echinacea seeds usually germinate in 10–20 days at 20°C, depending on temperature.
When does echinacea flower?
Echinacea usually flowers from July to September in the UK.
Does echinacea come back every year?
Yes. Echinacea is a perennial and comes back every year, dying back or slowing down over winter and regrowing in spring.
When should I prune echinacea?
Deadhead early blooms to encourage more flowers, but leave the later seed heads standing over winter for birds and structure. Cut the dead stems down to the base in late winter or early spring.
What grows well with echinacea?
Good companions for echinacea include Rudbeckia. See the companion plants section above for why each one helps.
Is echinacea frost hardy?
Yes. Echinacea is hardy and survives a normal UK winter outdoors.
What crop rotation group is echinacea in?
Echinacea is a perennial crop, so it stays in one place and sits outside the usual crop rotation.
Plan your echinacea in the allotment planner
Drag and drop plants onto your plot and get personalised sowing reminders.
Open PlannerMore Flowers
Hellebore
Helleborus orientalis
Hellebores are indispensable winter-flowering perennials, producing elegant, nodding, cup-shaped flowers from January to March when the garden is at its…
Iris
Iris germanica
Bearded irises are among the most elegant and dramatic garden flowers, producing large, ruffled blooms in an extraordinary range of colours — from palest…
Forget-me-not
Myosotis sylvatica
Forget-me-nots create misty clouds of sky-blue flowers in spring, forming the perfect underplanting beneath tulips, wallflowers, and late-flowering shrubs.…
Foxglove
Digitalis purpurea
Foxgloves are a native British wildflower that has earned its place in cultivated gardens through sheer dramatic beauty. Their tall spikes of tubular, spotted…