Echinacea is one of the flowers that cannot go unnoticed in the garden. It immediately attracts the eye with its regal appearance - on the "head" there is a honey-colored crown framed by slightly drooping petals with a silky sheen, below there is a magnificent "skirt" of rough leaves. Although the flower appeared in our country quite recently, it already has many fans because of its beauty and long flowering, as well as because of its exceptional medicinal properties.
This magnificent member of the Asteraceae family is from North America. Its daisy-like flowers adorn the open flower beds. This clearly indicates the great endurance of the plant, which adapts to a wide variety of climatic conditions. It has long been an important crop in its homeland, which is grown on plantations as a raw material for the pharmaceutical industry. Echinacea can now be found almost everywhere. The name echinacea comes from the Greek word echinos, which means hedgehog. Indeed, the "crown" formed by real flowers resembles this spherical animal. Echinacea decorates gardens from May to late autumn, when frosts interrupt its lush flowering. A perennial herbaceous plant. The stems are tall, reaching from 60 to 120 cm in different species. The flowers, like all members of the aster family, are actually basket inflorescences. They are quite large - up to 10-15 cm in diameter, located on the tops of the stems.
Over the years, echinacea grows and forms beautiful bushes that really impress when they bloom. They look even more beautiful because a lot of bees and butterflies flock to them.
Cultivation: It is not difficult to grow echinacea - it can grow well both in the open sun and in the light shade of trees. There are no special requirements for the soil, but still, if you provide it with deep and draining soil rich in nutrients, the results will be better. It does not suffer from pest attacks and diseases. In order for the flowering to be abundant and long-lasting, the faded flowers are removed. Despite the fact that this is a tall plant, it does not require additional devices for support, because the stems are strong and hardy enough to withstand gusts of wind. In autumn, echinacea is pruned to the soil. Separation and rejuvenation after 3-4 years has a very good effect on the decorative qualities of echinacea.
Propagation: Propagation of echinacea by seeds is not difficult. They are sown in May directly in the garden and germinate in about 2-3 weeks. In the first year of life, the plant forms a leaf rosette 15-20 cm high. In the second year, it begins to bloom. https://csgorun.game/
Autor: Redacción Observatorio de la Región Guayana
