Purple Coneflower - Prairie Native

Purple Coneflower - The purple mid summer blooms never seem to end. This is a priairie plant that is probably the most widely known since it is used in many types of garden applications. It attracts butterflies, birds and insects that are all part of a healthy ecosystem. Will tolerate clay soils. Plants reach 3-4' tall. Perennial. Hardy to zone 4.

Botanical Name: Echinacea purpurea

Characteristics: 

• Perennial and hardy to zone 4
• One of the very best for attracting butterflies and birds
• Plants grow to 3-4 feet tall
• Heavy yields of purple-magenta flowers from July through September
• Tolerates clay soils
• 250 Seeds per packet 

Instructions - Sow seeds outdoors just before last frost. Can also be started indoors and set out as small plants. Seeds can be soaked in warm water for 24 hours before planting. Prefers full sun to partial shade and well-drained rich soil. Purple Coneflower does not like to be transplanted as it develops a taproot that allows it to be very drought tolerant. 

Alternatively

• Start Indoors - 8-10 weeks before the last frost.
• Sow 1/2" deep
• Germination 10-20days
• Thin 18-24" apart

Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute seed vendors from time to time because of availability