The echinacea flower (lat. Echinacea) belongs to the genus of perennials of the Asteraceae, or Asteraceae, family, which includes 9 species. Echinacea is native to eastern North America. From Greek, the name of the plant is translated as “hedgehog, or prickly, like a hedgehog.” Most known species the genus includes Echinacea purpurea, also known as rudbeckia purpurea, which is widely used in folk and traditional medicine, as well as in ornamental gardening. Today we will tell you how to grow echinacea.

When to Plant Echinacea

Echinacea is planted both in spring and autumn. The process is usually preceded by a procedure such as dividing an echinacea bush. You can, of course, grow the plant from seeds, but the generative method of propagation is used exclusively for growing species Echinacea, hybrid varieties reproduce vegetatively. You can sow seeds in open ground from May to July. Seedlings germinate for about two weeks at a temperature of 20-22°C.

Echinacea varieties

Echinacea flowers come in several main types, which are beautiful in their own way and can bring variety to every flowerbed. The inflorescences of each species differ in their color scheme and bud size.

• Echinacea is weird. This type of flower is the only one of its kind and has a bright yellow inflorescence.
• Echinacea purpurea. This species is rarely grown from seeds. It differs from other varieties of the flower in its rather large bud, the diameter of which reaches 12 cm. The purple petals are crowned with a large brown core, dome-shaped. In the wild, purple coneflower primarily grows in rocky hills, forests and heaths with predominantly calcareous soils.
• Cranberry Cupcake is one of the most interesting Echinacea flowers. Small soft purple petals frame a massive and lush core consisting of hundreds of small reeds. The spectacular flowering of this type of echinacea makes it excellent choice for decorating flower beds in the garden.
• Variety The King. This variety was not called royal for nothing. The height of the stems of plants of this type of echinacea reaches 2 meters. The red-pink delicate inflorescence with small petals and a massive core reaches 15 cm in diameter.
• The White Swan variety, the translation of its name means “White Swan”, is very similar to the chamomile flower. These flowers have a bright white color, which looks very impressive in the garden.
• Indiaca. A flower variety that is distinguished by interesting longish wide petals color range: from soft pink to light brown.
• Magnus is one of the most beautiful varieties of Echinacea. With a relatively small flower height, up to 1 m, it is distinguished by a very beautiful bud with soft pink petals and a light brown core. Magnus blooms from mid-July to the end of September, delighting its owners personal plot with its beauty.

Ways to grow echinacea

There are two ways to grow echinacea from seeds:

The first is to sow the seeds directly into open ground. This can be done in late autumn or in early spring. In the first case, you will receive seedlings by May, and in the second case, they will hatch only in the summer. Everything will depend on the regularity of watering. Germination in in this case will be 50% of 100% seeds. This is due to the conditions in which Echinacea seeds germinate.

The second method is a little more complicated, but almost all the seeds will sprout. You need to first grow seedlings from them and only then plant them in open ground.

For this:

1. First, soak the echinacea seeds for 24 hours. Such a long period is associated with the presence of a fairly thick seed coat.
2. And once the seeds have swelled, they can be sown in prepared soil for seedlings. You can buy it in a store or make it yourself.
3. Echinacea seeds are deepened to the same level as the soil and sprayed with water from a spray bottle.
4. After which they are covered with transparent glass or film.

Echinacea shoots will appear no earlier than in 2-3 weeks. They can be planted in the ground in May along with most flowers.

Care and use of Echinacea

Echinacea is not sensitive to temperature changes, resistant to pests and diseases, but still requires minimal care. Water the plant not often, but abundantly, avoiding stagnation of water in the area. Overmoistening of the soil leads to the formation of fungal spores and provokes an attack by pests (mucus, slobbering pennies, etc.). In disease-affected plants, the leaves become stained and dry out, and the receptacle becomes deformed. Such bushes need to be urgently treated with fungicides or insecticides, depending on the cause of the disease.

• Flowerbeds with echinacea are regularly weeded and loosened; From the second year of life, the plant is fed with complex fertilizers for flowers.
• Cut off faded rosettes in a timely manner; At the end of flowering, cut the stems to the base and mound them with compost or humus.
• Mature plants tolerate winter well, but in cold latitudes, to prevent freezing, the roots are sprinkled with leaves or pine needles at the end of autumn.

Echinacea blooms in one area for 5-6 years, after which it needs to change location and replant. Echinacea looks impressive in a flower bed in combination with phlox and asters and fits well into group flower beds. Being a real storehouse of medicinal substances, the plant is valued in pharmacology and in folk medicine. It would be a crime to have echinacea on your property and neglect its medicinal properties.

Echinacea diseases

Echinacea is characterized by resistance to a variety of diseases and pests, but this process is still sometimes observed. Most often, Echinacea succumbs to fungal and viral diseases:

• Fungal diseases appear when high humidity soil. They are often caused by spores that belong to the genus Septoria and Cercospora. These diseases are characterized by the appearance of spots on the leaves, which lead to the weakening and death of Echinacea. If the disease is detected early, the affected leaves must be removed immediately. If fungal disease is very developed, then the plant must be treated with fungicides.
• Viral diseases cause deformation of flower stalks and drying out of leaves. Sick plants must be removed immediately. This will help preserve the remaining Echinacea bushes in the garden.

Very often, Echinacea is attacked by pests such as bugs, mucus, and slobbering pennies. To protect echinacea from pests, it is necessary not to over-moisten the soil. During rainy summers, Echinacea is often attacked powdery mildew.

To get rid of this disease, it is necessary to remove the affected areas and treat the plant with insecticides. Failure to comply with agricultural practices can lead to the appearance of pests. To avoid this, it is necessary to regularly clear the soil of weeds, which are carriers of various viruses and diseases.

Pests cannot cause any harm to the plant, but spoil them appearance they can easily enough. In order to get rid of pests, it is necessary to treat the plant as quickly as possible. chemicals. To avoid various diseases, Echinacea must be provided with proper and timely care.

Echinacea is a perennial herbaceous plant belonging to the Asteraceae family. Translated from Greek, the name means “prickly, like a hedgehog.”

This is due to the shape of the inflorescence: the core consists of numerous tubular flowers (like a hedgehog), framed by brightly colored petals, like a daisy. Echinacea was first described by Carl Linnaeus in 1753 and was assigned to the genus Rudbenkia, but about 40 years later it was separated into its own genus.

Botanical description

The plant is rhizomatous. Its height is 1-1.5 m. The stem is erect, rough. The basal leaves are wide, oval-shaped with serrated edges, attached to long petioles. The stem leaves are almost sessile or sessile, lanceolate in shape, arranged alternately.

The inflorescences-baskets (characteristic of Compositae) are large. The marginal reed inflorescences (petals) are painted white, pink, and red. The core has a dark red, red-brown color. The fruit is a tetrahedral achene. It blooms from about mid-summer to the end of September.

Growing Echinacea from Seeds

Generative (seed) propagation applies to varietal plants(hybrids do not retain varietal characteristics when propagated by seed).

Sowing in open ground

• Echinacea seeds are sown in open ground in early spring or late autumn.
• Dig up the soil, level the bed, make shallow furrows (seed placement depth 1-2 cm) at a distance of 20-25 cm, sow the seeds sparsely, sprinkle with a thin layer of soil, water.
• The first shoots are thinned to a distance of 7-8 cm, then - 10-15, and finally the bushes are left at a distance of 25-30 cm for low-growing varieties and 40-50 cm for powerful plants. excess plants can simply be transplanted to a new location as seedlings.
• In the first year, Echinacea grows root system, and flowering will occur next season.

Sowing seedlings at home

Echinacea from seeds at home photo of seedlings

To obtain ready-made seedlings spring planting it is necessary to grow seedlings.

Please note that the seeds have a hard shell, so before planting they should be soaked in warm water, or better yet, as a growth stimulator. Even in this case, germination takes about 1 month.

• Sowing Echinacea seeds for seedlings at the end of February. Sow in wooden boxes, containers or individual cups - at your discretion.
• The soil should be light, permeable to water and air.
• Deepen the seeds by 5-10 mm.
• The distance between seeds is 5-7 cm.
• Moisten the crops, cover with film, place in a bright place, maintain the air temperature at 13-15 ºC.
• When shoots appear, remove the film. Maintain moderate soil moisture.
• In early May, start hardening by leaving it outside for a couple of hours, and gradually increase the time to a full day.
• Plant stronger plants in open ground in May, when the soil is already warmed up and the threat of return frosts has passed.

Planting Echinacea in open ground

Grows best in areas with full sun.

The soil requires fertile, neutral or slightly alkaline reaction. Light sandy soils or too wet soils are absolutely not suitable. If the soil is acidic, apply garden lime.

• For seedlings, dig holes about 5 cm deep, for cuttings - slightly larger than the size of the root system.
• Maintain a distance of about 30 cm between plantings. Place no a large number of compost.

If you purchased a large seedling in a container, dig a hole about 40 cm deep. Fill a third of it with a mixture of garden soil, compost, and sand in equal proportions. Pass the fathoms along with the earthen lump. The root collar should remain at the same level as when growing in a container.

How to care for echinacea in the garden

• Water your echinacea deeply and often. Do this better in the evening.
• Remove weeds regularly and loosen the soil periodically.
• From the second year of life, start feeding. Twice a season (in early spring and after flowering), apply organic matter or complex mineral fertilizer.
• If there is no need to collect seeds, cut off the faded inflorescences with a piece of stem to the first green leaf.

Propagation of Echinacea by dividing the bush

Most often, the plant is propagated by dividing the bush (this way the varietal characteristics are preserved). You can divide an Echinacea bush that is 4-5 years old. Carry out the procedure in spring (April) or autumn. Carefully dig up the bush, divide it into parts so that each contains 3-4 growth buds, and plant them.

Diseases and pests of Echinacea

If the summer is rainy with temperature fluctuations, powdery mildew is possible: shoots and leaves become covered with a whitish coating. This can also happen from excess nitrogen fertilizers. It is necessary to treat with Bordeaux mixture or colloidal sulfur.

Cercospora blight, septoria blight - dangerous fungal diseases, manifested by various spots on the leaves. The plant becomes weak and may die. Remove affected areas and treat with fungicide.

In case of defeat viral diseases Leaves turn yellow and dry, flower stalks become deformed. Affected plants must be removed from the area and burned; treat the growth area with a strong solution of manganese.

Pests: bedbugs, slobbering pennies, slugs. Collect gastropods by hand, using traps. Treating with an insecticide will help get rid of insects.

Collecting seeds

Seed ripening is uneven. When the center of the core darkens, these seeds can be collected. Carefully remove them (it is better to wear a cloth glove), clean them from any remaining inflorescences and dry them. Seeds quickly lose their viability.

Overwintering Echinacea

Echinacea is frost-resistant. Young plants and, if a cold, snowless winter is expected, should be covered for the winter. At the end of October, cut off the stems, mulch the root collar with compost, and cover with dry leaves and spruce branches on top.

Types and varieties of Echinacea with photos and names

There are only 9 species of Echinacea in the natural environment. Mostly, Echinacea purpurea is cultivated with developed varieties and hybrids, and less commonly, Echinacea strange.

Echinacea purpurea

The height of the plant is about 1 m. The stems are erect. The basal leaves are wide, oval in shape, attached to long petioles; stem - oblong, sessile. The reed flowers are about 4 cm long, have a purple-pink color, and the core is red-brown.

Varieties:

Granatstem - the height of the plant reaches 1.3 m. The reed flowers have two-toothed tops, are painted purple, the core Brown. Inflorescence diameter – 13 cm.

Zonnenlach - reaches a height of 1.4, the diameter of the basket is 10 cm. The tops of the reed inflorescences are divided into 3 teeth, the color is dark red, the core is brown.

Echinacea purpurea terry variety Cranberry Cupcake photo

Cranberry Cupcake – very interesting variety. The core is massive, lush, consists of hundreds of small tongues, the color is dark pink, the petals are painted light purple.

The King - the stem rises 2 m. The massive inflorescence reaches a diameter of 15 cm. The color is red-pink.

White Swan - white inflorescences.

Indiaca - color range from soft pink to light brown.

Echinacea purpurea variety Magnus Echinacea Purpurea ‘Magnus’ photo

Magnus – plant height is 1 m. Very popular variety. The core is light brown in color, the petals are pale pink.

Ruby star is an echinacea 70-80 cm high, basket diameter is about 14 cm. The core is brown, the petals are crimson.

Echinacea Sunset Echinacea x sunset

A series of hybrids bred by Richard Skol. They are notable for their large inflorescences. The reed inflorescences are curved, can have the color of mango, mustard, strawberry, peach, and exude a wonderful aroma. Henna colored core.

Popular varieties:

Julia (from the Kisses of Butterflies series) - reaches a height of 45 cm. The flowers are bright orange.

Cleopatra - the diameter of the inflorescence is 7.5 cm. The petals are sunny yellow.

Evening Glow – the core is cone-shaped, dark in color. Reed flowers are yellow in color with an orange stripe and a pinkish tint.

Musk Melon - the color corresponds to the name. Reed flowers are arranged in 2 rows, have a pink-orange hue, the core is shaggy, of a darker shade.

Passion Flute - reed inflorescences are curled into a tube, colored golden yellow, the core has a greenish-mustard tint.

Terry Echinacea Double Scoop Cranberry Echinacea Double Scoop Cranberry photo

Double Scoop Cranberry is a striking cranberry-colored coneflower.

Echinacea strange Echinacea paradoxa

It is notable for the bright yellow color of its long, bent down petals. The plant forms powerful bushes and is hardy in dry summer conditions.

Echinacea in landscape design

Echinacea is classified as a perennial herbaceous plants. It has quite attractive inflorescences that can decorate the appearance of any flower bed. In addition, Echinacea is characterized by the presence of very beneficial medicinal properties.

It is also necessary to choose a sunny place for planting Echinacea, which will guarantee an excellent level of flower synthesis.

If the area where you plan to plant echinacea is characterized by a high level of acidity, then it can be treated with lime. It is best to plant this plant in the sun, as it loves heat very much. But, do not forget that this plant can easily tolerate cold weather.

But during severe winters, young Echinacea shoots must be covered with fallen leaves to protect them from wind and frost.

Plant care

How to properly care for the plant:

• Echinacea loves moderately moist soil. Therefore, before planting, the soil must be treated with a special solution with the addition of lime.
• This plant should be watered no more than once every two weeks.
• After flowering, Echinacea seedlings must be cut off.
• The shoots are removed, otherwise this may lead to them blooming in a different color.
• This plant must be replanted every 2-3 years.
• When transplanting, the bushes must be divided into several parts. This procedure must be carried out in early spring before the leaves grow. Autumn transplant It is best to avoid it, as echinacea does not tolerate it very well.

Echinacea does not like weeds, so it must be rid of this unwanted neighborhood. In the second year of life from spring this plant can be fed. For this purpose it is used complex fertilizer flowers or well-rotted compost with ash. This will lead to more lush flowering plants.

That is why it can be planted in flower beds, which6 are characterized by group plants. Echinacea flowers do not reproduce or change due to pollination, so several species of this plant can be planted in one bed.

Echinacea is characterized by resistance to a variety of diseases and pests, but this process is still sometimes observed.

Most often, Echinacea succumbs to fungal and viral diseases:

• Fungal diseases appear when soil moisture is high.
• They are often caused by spores that belong to the genus Septoria and Cercospora.
• These diseases are characterized by the appearance of spots on the leaves, which lead to the weakening and death of Echinacea.
• If the disease is detected early, the affected leaves must be removed immediately.
• If the fungal disease is very developed, then the plant must be treated with fungicides.
• Viral diseases cause deformation of flower stalks and drying out of leaves.
• Sick plants must be removed immediately. This will help preserve the remaining Echinacea bushes in the garden.

Very often, Echinacea is attacked by pests such as bugs, mucus, and slobbering pennies. To protect echinacea from pests, it is necessary not to over-moisten the soil. During rainy summers, Echinacea is often attacked by powdery mildew. To get rid of this disease, it is necessary to remove the affected areas and treat the plant with insecticides.

Failure to comply with agricultural practices can lead to the appearance of pests.

To avoid this, it is necessary to regularly clear the soil of weeds, which are carriers of various viruses and diseases. Pests cannot cause any harm to the plant, but they can spoil its appearance quite easily. In order to get rid of pests, it is necessary to treat the plant with chemicals as quickly as possible.

To avoid various diseases, Echinacea must be provided with proper and timely care.

Uses of Echinacea

Echinacea is a decoration for any garden bed. In addition, it has very good medicinal properties. This plant is used medicinally to treat many diseases.

This plant is often used to treat:

• Epilepsy.
• Gout.
• Women's diseases.
• Gonorrhea.
• Arthrosis.
• Inflammation of the oral cavity.

This plant is also highly effective against snake bites. Echinacea is not capable of causing any side effects and addiction. Echinacea is used as oil (crushed leaves of the plant mixed with honey), decoctions (leaves of the plant are poured with boiling water), tinctures (Echinacea is infused in alcohol), etc.

With the help of echinacea, the lymph system is cleansed, prevents cell destruction, fights against the effects of bacteria and viruses, cleanses the kidneys, liver and blood, etc. These beneficial features Echinacea helps maintain human health long time.

This plant is also effective in the treatment of dysbiosis, bronchitis, alcoholism, arthritis, obesity, hair loss, cleansing the body, etc.

This plant is not only an attractive flower that can decorate outdoor areas, but also very effective in many human diseases.

More information can be found in the video.

For a long time now, Echinacea has reliably settled on many garden plots. Flower lovers appreciate it not only for its beauty, but also for medicinal properties which she possesses. It is believed not the best remedy to improve immunity, treat various inflammatory processes, such as decoctions or tinctures of Echinacea.

Description of perennial plant

Echinacea is native to North America. This perennial from the family Asteraceae or Asteraceae. It is a tall perennial, growing up to 1.5 m in height. The stem is rough. Echinacea leaves can be basal or stem. The basal ones are wide, oval-shaped, with jagged edges and located on long petioles. But the stem leaves are sessile, lancet-shaped, arranged one after another.

Echinacea inflorescences are baskets consisting of marginal reed flowers of pink, red, white, as well as median tubular flowers that are red-brown or dark red in color. Long-lasting flowering - more than 2 months. The fruit is presented in the form of a tetrahedral achene.

How to grow Echinacea at home?

Echinacea can be propagated in two ways - generatively, that is, by seeds and vegetatively, by dividing the bush. The first method is used to obtain species Echinacea, but hybrid varieties are best grown vegetatively.

Echinacea can be grown from seeds either open ground, and through seedlings.

Growing Echinacea with seeds in open ground

Echinacea seeds can be sown in open ground in spring or autumn. However, it should be remembered that the seed coat is very hard, which makes it difficult for sprouts to germinate. It will take quite a long time to soften the shell, which is why autumn sowing is considered the most favorable. Flower growers who constantly grow Echinacea were able to verify this: seeds that fell into the ground in the fall germinate perfectly by self-sowing in the spring.

Growing Echinacea seedlings at home

The site for growing Echinacea should be light, with fertile, deeply cultivated neutral or slightly alkaline soil. It is also necessary to take into account that too wet or light sandy soil is not suitable for Echinacea. If the soil on the site is acidic, you need to add chalk or lime to the soil.

The germination period of seeds varies: it all depends on how light their shell was. So, the seeds can “hatch” either after 15-20 days or after a month or more.

In the first year of growth, Echinacea will not bloom. Over the summer, it will only have time to form a rosette of leaves 15-20 cm high. But in order for the plant to bloom in the same year, it will need to be grown through seedlings.

How to grow Echinacea seedlings?

1. Growing Echinacea seedlings consists of the following steps: Preparing the soil for sowing seeds.
2. Echinacea is a picky plant; it accepts any soil that is offered to it. However, in order for the plant to be comfortable, it is necessary that it grows and develops in light, moisture-absorbing and breathable soil. Before sowing seeds, the soil must be disinfected. To do this, it must be taken out into the cold for 10-15 days, then spilled with a solution of potassium permanganate. This will protect the seedlings from various types of fungal diseases. To soften the seed shell, they must be kept for a certain time in a solution of a plant growth stimulator, for example, in Epin, or simply in water. To do this, the seeds are laid out on a cotton cloth or paper towel, wrapped, moistened and placed on a saucer. The fabric (napkin) must be constantly damp, and there must be air access to the seeds, so additionally wrap them in plastic bag, as some do, is not recommended. Sowing is carried out in early February.
3. Preparing containers for seedlings. Any container is suitable for growing seedlings: seedling boxes, plastic containers, tall but narrow pots. The container must have drainage holes and place pebbles or expanded clay on the bottom so that the water does not stagnate.
4. Sowing seeds. Since Echinacea seeds do not germinate smoothly, seedlings must be planted as soon as the seeds begin to “hatch”. Sowing is carried out as follows: a groove is made in the soil 7-10 mm deep, sprouted seeds are placed in it, carefully sprinkled with a thin layer of sand or soil, and moistened with a spray bottle. The container is covered with glass or film and transferred to a bright place. Optimal temperature for seedling germination is 13-15°C, but if the room is more heat, it will not harm the seedlings.
5. Caring for seedlings. As soon as sprouts appear from the ground, the glass (film) is removed from the seedling container. Now the main condition for the full development of seedlings is light and moderate but regular watering.

When and how to plant Echinacea seedlings in a permanent place?

Since Echinacea sprouts are very tender, plant them on permanent place They should be planted only when the threat of frost has passed. The distance between seedlings should be at least 30 cm. The composition of the soil is the same as for sowing seeds in open ground. Each seedling is carefully removed from the seedling container along with a lump of earth and placed in a hole corresponding to the size of the root system of the seedling. After planting, the planted young plants are watered room temperature, and the bed is mulched.

Caring for Echinacea

• Moderate but regular watering.
• If the soil is not fertilized, in the spring of the second year, feed Echinacea with saltpeter or mullein, and in the budding phase with fertilizer containing potassium and phosphorus, but on the condition that the plant will not be used for medicinal purposes.
• Make sure that faded flowers do not remain, otherwise flowering will not be abundant and long.
• Before the attack winter frosts, cut off the entire above-ground part, hill up the remaining part.

Echinacea a flower that amazingly combines exquisite beauty and unique healing properties. This plant has long been firmly established in our flower beds and flower beds.

A little about the plant

Echinacea is native to South America. It has been known there since time immemorial. The Indians, the indigenous inhabitants of those places, gave it a romantic name - “ Evening sun" Quite an accurate name. Especially in relation to the most common type among us - “ Echinacea purpurea" Sometimes there is another name for it - “ Rudbeckia purpurea" It is believed that Carl Linnaeus himself called it this way, who described it and placed it in the genus Rudbeckia. But over time, this decision was revised, and Echinacea was separated into a completely separate genus of the Asteraceae family. Unlike the Indian name, the translation of the name of this plant from Greek into our native language is less romantic. Echinacea ( Echinacea) – prickly. This is a rather tall flower, often reaching a height of 1.5 meters. It blooms profusely and for a long time with beautiful large flowers, leaving behind a considerable amount of seeds in the achene fruit. This fruit is bristling with seeds - spines, which give the name to the flower. In addition to Echinacea purpurea, other varieties have been bred that are different in color: pink-orange (Muskmelon variety), yellow (Cleopatra variety), dark red (Zonnelach variety), orange (Julia variety), golden (Passion Flute variety).

Growing Echinacea from Seeds

Note! When propagated by seeds, the varietal characteristics of the plant are not preserved. This is how you can propagate mainly “Echinacea purpurea”. For varietal and hybrid plants, propagation by dividing the bush is used.

As mentioned, after flowering, Echinacea leaves a large number of seeds. So they should be used for reproduction. This can be done by sowing them directly in open ground or growing seedlings.

Echinacea seeds are sown in open ground in the spring, when the ground has warmed up sufficiently. The most acceptable temperature for their germination is within +12-13 degrees. The seeds can simply be scattered over the surface of the ground and covered with a thin layer of soil. You can first cull the seeds. To do this, they must be placed in a glass with warm water for a couple of days. Those seeds that sink to the bottom will be suitable for sowing.

But this method, although easy, also has a drawback. In capricious spring weather, tender echinacea sprouts are easily damaged and do not survive. It is much safer to grow seedlings.

Growing Echinacea seedlings

Sowing of seeds is carried out at the end of February - March. Selected seeds are sown in containers with light soil to a depth of no more than 0.5 centimeters. After sowing, the soil is moistened with a spray bottle and covered transparent material to create greenhouse conditions and placed in a warm place for germination. It will take a long time to wait for echinacea shoots to appear. Sometimes the wait lasts 40–45 days. During this time, check the soil moisture and ventilate the container. After emergence, caring for Echinacea seedlings is the same as. When the seedlings are strong enough and the weather is warm, the seedlings can be planted in open ground.

Note! Echinacea grown from seeds gains strength in the first year and does not bloom. This year she will only be able to grow a leaf rosette 20 centimeters high. Flowering will occur next year.

Propagation of Echinacea by dividing the bush

Only mature, fairly dense plant bushes, approximately 4-5 years old, are suitable for division. The division is carried out both in spring (April) and autumn (October). When digging up a bush, you should be careful not to damage the root system. The bush must first be watered abundantly, this will make it easier to remove. The roots, cleared of soil, are carefully cut into the required number of sections. Each of them must have three to four renewal buds.

Planting Echinacea in open ground

Plants grown from seeds are planted in the spring, but divided bushes can be planted in both spring and autumn.

For planting, choose a well-lit place with fertile soil. Echinacea does not like acidic soil. If necessary, deoxidize it. It is ideal to put it into the ground, but you can also do it normally. Also avoid planting in sandy soil and areas with stagnant water that are too wet.

To plant Echinacea seedlings, make small holes about 5 centimeters deep. But basically this depth will depend on the size of your seedlings and their root system. Maintain a distance of 30 centimeters between seedlings in group planting. Approximately the same scheme is maintained for planting part of an echinacea bush. Just make the planting hole slightly larger than the size of the plant’s root system. It is advisable to pour a small amount into the bottom of the holes. In this case, make the size of the planting hole for Echinacea taking into account this additive.

Caring for Echinacea

Watering

Echinacea loves frequent and abundant watering. If the summer is not rainy, then it is advisable to water daily. You should not water the plant during the heat of the day. The most favorable time for this is after sunset.

Top dressing

You can start fertilizing Echinacea only in the second year of life, when it reaches its flowering period. Fertilizers are applied twice. The first time - before flowering, in the spring and the second time - at the end of the flowering period. You can also use ready-made mineral fertilizers, but the most preferable feeding is a mixture of ash (ash) and well-rotted manure.

Pruning and seed collection

After the plant has bloomed, all faded flowers must be removed along with a small section of the stem. But if you plan to collect seeds, then they need to be given a little time to ripen. You can determine the maturity of Echinacea seeds by the shade of the seed head. Ripe seeds usually have a dark, almost black tint.

Important! Echinacea seeds quickly lose their viability. Therefore, there is no point in storing them for a long time.

Wintering

In most regions, this flower survives winter without special labor. But if your winters are cold, then you should take care of covering your echinacea for the winter. This is especially critical for plants in their first year of life. Before frost, adult plants are pruned, the root collar is sprinkled with compost or sawdust, and the soil around the roots is mulched with sawdust, fallen leaves, peat, etc. If the winter is expected to be harsh, it is advisable to cover the plant with spruce branches.

Medicinal properties of Echinacea

What makes this plant especially valuable is its antiviral and antiseptic properties. The elements contained in echinacea counteract the proliferation of pathogenic bacteria, viruses, and infections. It is used in the treatment and prevention of influenza, sore throat, colds and upper respiratory tract diseases. Used as an antiallergic, anti-inflammatory, antirheumatic agent. Echinacea successfully fights various fungal diseases, heals wounds and ulcers, and strengthens general immunity. And these are not all the beneficial properties of echinacea.

What’s great is that almost all parts of the plant are suitable for preparing medicinal tinctures, decoctions, etc.

Echinacea decoction

This simple remedy relieves joint pain, swelling, improves vision, and is used in the treatment of stomach ulcers. After taking this decoction, your mood improves.

Preparing the decoction

For one glass of boiling water, take a teaspoon of crushed echinacea leaves. Moreover, you can use both fresh and dried leaves. The leaves poured with boiling water should be kept in a water bath for half an hour. After filtering and cooling, the decoction is ready for use.

Taking a decoction

The usual course of taking it lasts 10 days. It consists of taking 30 milliliters of decoction three times a day after meals. If you need to take several such courses, then a one-week break between them is required.

Echinacea infusion

It is recommended if available excess weight, signs of the onset of obesity. Used in the treatment of gynecological diseases, herpes. But its main and most common purpose is to strengthen the body’s overall immunity.

Preparing the infusion

The infusion should be prepared in an airtight, well-sealed container. For half a liter, take a tablespoon of echinacea (dried or fresh parts). A thermos is best suited for preparing echinacea infusion. If you prepare the infusion in the evening, it will be ready in the morning.

Taking the infusion

Take the infusion for 10 days (if there are no individual recommendations), three times a day before meals (25-30 minutes), 100 milliliters at a time. After completing one course there must be a break of at least 5 days. After three courses in a row, a break of at least a month.

Important! Despite all their naturalness, Echinacea preparations may have contraindications. This is both an individual intolerance to the components of the drug and an allergic reaction to them. Echinacea is also contraindicated for a number of diseases. Before you start taking it, consult your doctor!

How to grow echinacea and its benefits (video)

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