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Herbaceous Perennial

Echinacea laevigata

smooth coneflower

An attractive, upright, perennial coneflower species native to the Piedmont range, USA, and producing pretty, spider-like blooms from May - August. Flowers have a reddish-brown central cone surrounded by narrow, drooping, 10cm long, pale pink-purple petals. Not particularly suited to landscaping due to each plant only producing one flower but an excellent addition to dry, sandy soil meadows and wildlife gardens, especially for pollinators

Size
Ultimate height
0.5–1 metres
Time to ultimate height
2–5 years
Ultimate spread
0.1–0.5 metres
Growing conditions
Chalk
Loam
Sand
Moisture
Well–drained
pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Colour & scent
StemFlowerFoliageFruit
Spring Green
Summer Pink Purple Green
Autumn Green
Winter
Position
  • Full sun
Aspect

East–facing or South–facing or West–facing

Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness
H5
Botanical details
Family
Asteraceae
Native to the UK
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Clump forming
Genus

Echinacea are erect, clump-forming rhizomatous perennials with simple or pinnately lobed leaves and solitary, long-stalked daisies with prominent conical central disks and often drooping ray florets; attractive to butterflies

Name status

Unresolved

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How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in fertile, humus rich, well drained soil in full sun. Surface sow onto moist but well drained seed compost and lightly cover with vermiculite. Maintain at a temperature of 20-24C. Germination can be slow and irregular, cold stratify if germination does not occur. Transplant into pots when seedlings are large enough to handle. Take care when propagating by divison or root cuttings as they resent a lot of disturbance

Propagation

Propagate by seed, division in Spring or Autumn or by root cuttings from late Autumn to early Winter

Suggested planting locations and garden types
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Patio and container plants
  • Prairie planting
  • Wildflower meadow
  • Wildlife gardens
  • Cut flowers
  • Flower borders and beds
Pruning

Deadhead to extend flowering

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free

Get involved

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