Echinacea purpurea Dark Shadows Wicked - Purple Coneflower

Echinacea Dark Shadows 'Wicked' is a rather fantastic variety of Echinacea, both in terms of its habit and its colours. This plant, upright and vertical, forms a true bouquet of flowers in a bright watermelon pink colour around a prominent cone in a very dark brown, almost black. They are borne on stems of chocolate brown colour, well above beautiful dark green foliage. An astonishing plant, stunning when planted en masse, magnificent in pots. Not demanding, it adapts to all well-drained soils, in full sun. 

Native to the western United States, from Georgia to Michigan via Oklahoma and Ohio, the Echinacea purpurea is a perennial with a strong character that colonizes rocky meadows, savannas, clear undergrowth, and roadside edges in its natural environment. Dark Shadows 'Wicked' is part of a lineage of hybrids recently developed in the USA by Terra Nova Nurseries. This variety also carries the genes of the Echinacea tennesseensis. It forms a dense and upright clump, 40cm (16in) tall when in flower and 35cm (14in) wide. This plant does not weaken, does not collapse, showing very good durability. The opposite leaves, lanceolate in shape and dark green in colour, are gathered towards the base of the stems. The abundant flowering lasts from July to September and is very visited by butterflies. The sturdy, dark stems are topped by a solitary head-like inflorescence. Each of these heads is composed of a prominent central cone, ranging from reddish-brown to almost black, and a collar of horizontal petals or ligules in a beautiful deep pink colour. The fruit is an achene that releases seeds which birds are fond of. This plant anchors itself firmly and deeply in the soil, thanks to its highly developed root system. 

Echinacea Dark Shadows 'Wicked' can be grown in pots or in the ground. This perennial can be planted in the borders of flower beds, mixed with other compact varieties of Echinaceas, or in the company of Inulas, compact Tritomas, Achilleas, daisies, Echinops, Coreopsis. Lighten up the scene by mixing in some ornamental grasses such as Stipa tenuifolia, Muhlenbergia capillaris, etc. Splendid in flower beds, the beautiful colours of Echinacea are also highly appreciated in fresh or dried flower bouquets. 

A medicinal plant: In homeopathy, the root of echinacea is used to fight against colds and to strengthen the immune system. These properties were already used by Native Americans. The name Echinacea comes from the Greek echinos, which means "spiky or like a hedgehog," and acea, which means "having the shape of," referring to the appearance of the flower's centre.