The rights of spring
The first sight of fresh foliage is a welcome sign of things to come, writes David Overend.
There is just the faintest hint of green growth at the base of my supposedly dormant coneflowers; despite the foul winter weather, the ice, the snow and the almost-constant rain. Summer may be months away, but those mere hints of fresh foliage are a welcome reminder that, hopefully, things can only get better and there will be a summer.
And the coneflowers (notably Echinacea) are vibrant and integral parts of the summer border. Bees and butterflies love them and some birds feed on the seedheads.
There are several species of Echinacea, but the flowers with which we are most familiar come from the species E purpurea. Given rich soil, plants can reach 4ft. In most varieties, the petals droop after growing outward from the cone.
Coneflowers enjoy a sunny spot with a fertile soil. If your soil isn’t particularly fertile, work in a little compost and supplement with a good organic fertiliser. Well-drained soil is a must. In damp areas, you might need to plant in a raised bed.
Echinacea thrives in full to partial sun. Plants need at least four hours of sunlight per day. The plants grow natively along the edges of woodlands and thrive in spots with morning shade and afternoon sun.
Echinacea will tolerate poor, rocky soil, but will not grow in wet, heavy soil. Mulch plants with compost when planting.
Plant coneflowers in spring or autumn. Regular weeding is a must because coneflowers don’t compete well with weeds. Expect blooms from June to October in most areas.
Deadheading is vital. These plants are prolific bloomers – by deadheading you will keep them flowering all summer.
Echinacea are also good at self-seeding as long as you leave a few of the last flowers to dry naturally. You can also harvest the seeds to use next year or lift and divide older, established plants in spring once every four years.