| The coneflower or the Herb Echinacea has | | | | |
| caused a great splash with gardeners and | | | | There are two kinds of purple coneflowers, |
| herbalists in the past couple of years. | | | | the Pale Purple coneflower and the Purple |
| There have been many studies done in Germany | | | | coneflower. The pale purple coneflower is |
| which seems to support the ideas that the | | | | 3-6 inches in diameter. It is best situated |
| coneflower does indeed boost the immune | | | | in sunny sites with good drainage. It is |
| system. Gardeners love the Herb Echinacea | | | | found in the Midwest and south to Louisiana. |
| because of it hardiness and long blooming | | | | These three feet tall plants start their |
| season July through fall. Herbalists love it | | | | blooming in July and will last until the |
| for its medicinal qualities. The plant was | | | | frost months. |
| named from the Greek "echinos" meaning | | | | |
| Hedgehog. It is believed that they named it | | | | The Purple Coneflower, known for its |
| that for its sharp and pointy flower bracts. | | | | medicinal qualities is the most widely used |
| The conical center is why it is called | | | | of the species. Most gardeners make use of |
| Coneflower. In addition, gardeners love the | | | | this Echinacea herb. This is a big plant, |
| fact that the Herb Echinacea attracts birds | | | | three to four feet tall with large flowers |
| and butterflies. | | | | about four to six inches in diameter. The |
| | | | flowers are quite lovely with reddish purple |
| There are nine species of the coneflower. | | | | petals tipped in green. The centers are |
| All of them are native to North America. We | | | | orange and there petals will droop. They are |
| will be examining four of the species that | | | | so droopy that in the Ozarks their name is |
| are widely available. You can choose one | | | | droopy. There leaves can be jagged or smooth |
| coneflower or mix it up with two or three to | | | | and are a medium green color. Many florists |
| make it more interesting. | | | | use these in their arrangements because of |
| | | | their durable stalks. |
| For a smaller coneflower (10 to 24 inches) | | | | |
| choose the Black Sampson variety. The plant | | | | The Herb Echinacea was revered by the Native |
| grows from the Canadian border south, all the | | | | Americans and in Montana they are alarmed |
| way to Texas. The stems of this plant are | | | | that it is being over harvested. They used |
| hairy, with narrow leaves and rose pink | | | | the coneflower to treat health problems like |
| flowers. This is the smallest of the | | | | respiratory infections and snakebites. In the |
| Echinacea species. The flowers are 2 ½ to | | | | 19th century Echinacea was use to purify |
| 3 inches in diameter when in full bloom. | | | | blood. It was also used to treat dizziness. |
| | | | In the next century, before the use of |
| The research on the Herb Echinacea suggests | | | | antibiotics, it was used to treat colds and |
| that the medicinal qualities of the | | | | flu. Now it is popular in treating upper |
| Echinacea are in the roots. Unfortunately, | | | | respiratory illness. It is becoming |
| mass collection of the Black Sampson has | | | | increasing popular in reducing itch and to |
| endangered it. | | | | soothe the skin. |
| | | | |
| Tennessee Coneflower is also on the | | | | If using the Herb Echinacea for medicinal |
| endangered list. This coneflower only grows | | | | purposes it is best used in its fresh state. |
| in central Tennessee and the U.S. Fish and | | | | The plant must grow for three years before |
| Wildlife agency licenses the nurseries | | | | the roots become beneficial. If you are |
| planning on selling this species. This Herb | | | | buying the Herb Echinacea from a health food |
| Echinacea will grow two or 3 feet.. The | | | | store, chew a small piece first. If it does |
| leaves are a darkish green with flowers that | | | | not numb your tongue and you don't produce |
| are a deep pink with green centers and | | | | more saliva, the roots are either too old or |
| upturned petals. | | | | improperly dried. It is not healthy to ingest |
| | | | Echinacea over a long period of time. Give |
| As noted above, the nurseries must be | | | | your immune system a break so you do not |
| licensed, so look to the internet for | | | | build up a tolerance for Echinacea. |
| sources. | | | | |