Echinacea paradoxa – Yellow Coneflower (plant)

Description

Echinacea paradoxa, the yellow coneflower is a North American species of Echinacea native to southern Missouri, Arkansas, and south-central Oklahoma, with one isolated population reported from Montgomery County in eastern Texas. It is listed as threatened in Arkansas (Wikipedia). The Echinacea genus contains 9 species all native to eastern USA.

Echinacea is an immunostimulant , the fresh pressed juice or dry herb is used in the supportive treatment of colds and infections of the respiratory and urinary tract; externally to treat wounds, ulcers and skin inflammations (Van Wyck & Wink, Medicinal Plants of the World, 2004) Active ingredients are polysaccharides PS I and PS II, and also alkylamides and caffeic acid derivatives.

Care and Cultivation of Echinacea paradoxa

Echinacea purpurea seeds can be planted 1cm deep in a well drained potting mix and placed in full sun to part shade until germination. Likes adequate water/fertiliser and a full-sun position in well drained soil. Fast growing and hardy, leaves may die over winter. No stratification required.

1 plant