Echinacea Magic Box - Purple Coneflower seeds

Echinacea 'Magic Box' promises an explosion of colours mixing red-orange, white, saffron, mauve, violet with an orange, green or black heart, it is one of the best combinations of echinaceas.

Echinacea purpurea or Purple Coneflower is a perennial herbaceous plant endemic to North America. It is found in the dry prairies of the Eastern United States or in sparsely wooded areas. Its natural habitat includes heathlands but also cultivated fields. This large Asteraceae is characterized by large pale pink to violet heads, sometimes white, carried by very stiff, dark green to purple stems that branch out at their ends. Generally, it measures between 60cm (23.6in) and 1.20m (3.3ft). When the flower is immature, the ligules of the collar spread horizontally and then adopt a widely involute habit (bent downwards or towards the stem). The colours of the flower fade over time. The central florets form a conical dome bristling with rich, amber-coloured and pointed tubules, becoming more prominent and darker as the flower blossoms. This uniqueness earned it the name Echinacea, which comes from the Greek 'Ekhinos' meaning hedgehog. The dark green leaves are lanceolate, pubescent, and become sessile at the top of the stem.

Echinacea x hybrida Magic Box mix has been specially selected for its superb forms and spectacular performance in the garden. With their 75cm (29.5in) height, they are magnificent in the middle of a bed. Among the Echinacea purpurea, there are some varieties of Echinacea pallida which generally have the same formal characteristics but their collar is composed of finer and more spaced ligules. The whole forms a true festival of colours mixing red-orange, white, saffron, mauve, violet with an orange, green or black heart. It is one of the best available mixes of Echinaceas in terms of colours.

Of course, Echinacea prefers rich, sandy and well-drained soils but is not affected at all by soil pH. It likes sun and light shade. It is hardy and withstands long periods of drought. Echinacea naturalizes very easily. You can use it with other perennials in a meadow where it will spontaneously take over. Combine it with Echinacea 'Coconut Lime', Phlox, Alliums or even tall Eupatoriums.

Very melliferous and nectariferous, its scent attracts butterflies; by placing purple flowers near orchards, you will undoubtedly contribute to the pollination of your fruit trees. At the edge of a bed in meadows or in rock gardens, this beautiful daisy will naturally appropriate the surroundings. Trimming faded flowers stimulates new blooms. However, you can leave some stems and heads in winter: they are very graphic but above all the seeds are highly prized by birds, especially bullfinches and goldfinches. The flowers make a sensation in bouquets as part of floral arrangements.

The different species of Echinacea, especially purpurea, pallida, and angustifolia, are panaceas in Native American pharmacopoeia. They are reputed to be immune-stimulating and promote the healing of winter diseases (cold, flu, respiratory ailments). All cultivars have retained the properties of their original species.