Coneflower White Swan - Ontario Seed Company

Echinacea purpurea

An attractive white version of the popular purple coneflower. Hardy plants are topped with white, daisy-shaped flowers with yellowish-grey pincushion shaped centres. A reliable late summer flower for borders or cutting. Garden height 60 cm (24"). Even less tolerant of continually wet soil than the purple flowering form. Hardy to Zone 3.

How to Grow

An outstanding perennial that is very easy to grow. Loves full sun but will tolerate partial shade. Attracts beneficial insects such as pollinators and butterflies. Seeds are an important late summer and early fall food source for Gold Finches. There is a rich folklore associated with Echinacea, attributing extracts of its roots with the ability to heal the common cold. This robust perennial will turn heads wherever planted and withstand more heat and drought than most. Sowing outdoors September through October is best as it takes advantage of natural stratification. For blooms the first year, start indoors Feb to Mar 1st. Indoors, use a soil-less growing medium, covering the seed. Most coneflower seeds germinate well by keeping the growing medium at 20-25 C (70-80 F) for 10-15 days. The speed of germination varies by crop year. Sometimes the seed is hesitant, taking up to 9 weeks to germinate. If there is no germination after two weeks. you have a seed lot that requires a stratification treatment. Fresh seed is best when stratifying. Keep the sown growing medium at 4 C (39 F) for 9 weeks then move to 10 C (50 F) for a couple of weeks. After germination grow on under lights at a slightly cooler temperature. When planting out after hardening off the seedlings, select a site in full sun with good air circulation.

Perennial.

Approx. 150 seeds/pkt.