Echinacea flower is very beneficial. It beautifies the garden and promotes health. The abundance of varieties of this flower will allow you to find an option for every taste.
Echinacea belongs to the Asteraceae family. She came to us from North America. There, this flower grows everywhere – in the fields, wastelands, on rocky hills, etc.
Echinacea flower is most often purple
For the first time, American Indians began to use echinacea for medicinal purposes. They also began to cultivate this plant. It helps with colds, all kinds of infections and inflammations. However, the main task of echinacea is to strengthen the immune system. Usually the roots of this plant are used to make medicines, but sometimes flowers and other parts are also used. The roots are also used in cooking. They have a pungent taste.
Each variety of Echinacea has its own characteristics, but there are common characteristics for all varieties. The leaves of this plant are narrow and oval, with pronounced veins and rough edges. In large flowers, the middle is protruding, fluffy. The flowers form on long, sturdy stems.
In nature, this plant has many varieties. Here are some of the most common ones:
- “Granashtern”. Refers to a subgroup of Echinacea purpurea. Height about 130 cm, diameter of flowers – 13 cm. Purple petals are slightly lowered. The size of the convex part of the flower is 4 cm.
- Sonnenlach. Also belongs to the subgroup of Echinacea purpurea. Height 140 cm, diameter of flowers 10 cm. Color purple.
- “Yulia”. Dwarf variety with a height of 45 cm. Bred artificially. Deep orange flowers. They begin to bloom in early summer and bloom until the end of the season.
- Cleopatra. The variety is named after the butterfly of the same name, as it has the same bright yellow color. The flowers are 7,5 cm in diameter and look like little suns.
- Evening Glow. Yellow flowers, decorated with orange stripes with a pink tinge.
- King. The tallest variety, the height reaches 2,1 m. The flowers are large – 15 cm in diameter. The color is pale pink.
- “Cantaloupe”. The flowers are pinkish-orange, exactly the same color as that of the cantaloupe. An interesting feature: the petals are arranged in two rows.
There is also the Golden Passion Flute, the drought-resistant, bright cranberry-colored Double Scoop Cranberry, and many others.
The perennial flower of Echinacea is bright and beautiful. You can grow any of its varieties in your garden. Well, and if necessary, use this plant to improve your health.