Echinacea purpurea – Purple Coneflower (seed)

Description

An Echinacea species from the American midwest, perennial. All parts of the plant can be used medicinally like other Echinacea species. 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

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.

50+ seeds per packet