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Echinacea

Peanuts3Peanuts3 Posts: 759
in Plants

I recently purchased some echinacea's (Praire Splendour, Bright Rose) and when they turned up, it stated they were short lived perennials (live for 3 years),

Is this always the case with all Echinacea ? I have also purchased Echinacea Crimson Star, Echinacea Purpurea (some are just called this ?), Echinacea Magnus Splendour, Echinacea Vintage Wine.

Can you guess i suddenly decided last summer i like echinacea ??? Just hope they grow, and last longer than 2-3 years...

Any ideas anyone, thank you.

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Posts

  • Julie LanteriJulie Lanteri Posts: 133

    I'm not sure how long they last, mine are 2 or 3 year old plants but i've noticed some seedlings around (And i grew the ones in the garden from seed too). Goldfinch love the seeds btw. Interested to see how others propagate their plants. Rhs website says root cutting or division but they don't like root disturbance... Confused...

  • Peanuts3Peanuts3 Posts: 759

    Thanks Verdun and Julie, interesting.  I'm definitely on free draining soil, so that is one good thing.

    If I remove the flowers before mid summer, I assume they will still flower later on this year ?

    If they only last that long 2 -3 years, do you rely on them reseeding to keep up numbers or are people / places growing them from seed  year. I thought I'd purchased a bargain, but it seems these could be some high maintenance plants.

    Any advice on how you get a decent clump growing and keep them in the garden.  Maybe I should stick with the Purpurea and Magnus in future.

    Always learning, sorry for the daft questions. imageimage

  • chickychicky Posts: 10,400

    I grew a variety called Pink Parasol from seed a few years ago, and they are still going strong.  I find the most difficult bit is getting them through the slug munching stage at about this time of year ....they seem to be resistant once they get going growing.

    I've got some Magnus on the go this year from seed - they will get grown on this summer, overwinter in the coldframe, and then ready to plant out and flower next summer.

    here's a pic of pink parasol

    image

     

  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,441

    I am growing magic box from seed. I find that the fancier they are, the shorter lived they are. Mostly one season with me except for standard purpurea.

  • ButtercupdaysButtercupdays Posts: 4,502

    I've had Sundown and Bravado for three or four years and Hot Papaya for two, but because we have very wet winters either from rain or melting snow here, I lift them and overwinter them in the GH. They don't seem to object to this treatment and have gone from strength to strength, so can't see why division shouldn't work, if done carefully. Tiki Torch didn't survive long for me, but it was a smaller plant to begin with, so perhaps would have done better with the flowers removed as Verdun suggests.

  • Peanuts3Peanuts3 Posts: 759

    I've just been re-reading this.  I planted some of my echinacea out last weekend, one got munched straight away so I've strulched and I have to confess slug pellets have been used.  I've nurtured these for months, I hope they can survive.  i hope I haven't been premature in planting them out.  I still have more to plant which are purpurea ones which I bought as tiny plugs, so will hold off on those for longer, plus I tried some from seed, so i think I've got all growing options covered. 

    Fingers crossed.  I'll try and remember to remove flower heads, when would I expect to start seeing these ? which month.

    Thanks for any help. ximage

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