The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Growing => Gardens => Topic started by: DavidandCollette on February 24, 2016, 09:21:57 am

Title: echinacea
Post by: DavidandCollette on February 24, 2016, 09:21:57 am

I have just received six echinacea corms (?) free with my order. What do I do with them please ???

Title: Re: echinacea
Post by: Fleecewife on February 24, 2016, 12:11:24 pm

Grow them as hardy perennials, but start them off frost free in pots.  They grow into a 60cm tall plant with feathery foliage and large pink daisy-like flowers - very effective in the flower garden.  Each year the clump grows bigger and the display improves.
Echinacea is also a medicinal plant although I've not used it for that.

Title: Re: echinacea
Post by: Jukes Mum on February 24, 2016, 12:24:46 pm

Give them to me  :excited: the slugs zapped mine last year. It's just started to poke through again now and the slugs have got it already :-(

Title: Re: echinacea
Post by: waterbuffalofarmer on February 24, 2016, 01:20:46 pm

There are many types of echinacea, is this one echinacea purpurea? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Echinacea_purpurea Apparently the bees love this plant for the pollen, so any honey bee feeding off this could produce honey with very important vitamins and minerals in it. :)

Title: Re: echinacea
Post by: DavidandCollette on February 25, 2016, 09:35:29 am

Thanks for that folks. Yes WBF they are purpurea so that's even better. I will get them h into a propogater today. A treat for my bees :excited: