Echinacea purpurea Green Twister - Purple Coneflower

Echinacea purpurea 'Green Twister' is a rather fantastic natural mutation of the Rudbeckia 'Magnus', famous for its exceptionally large flowers. But its flowers display a changing, subtle and unprecedented colouration, combining magenta pink, pale green and light yellow around a large brown-red central cone. From its wonderful parent, 'Green Twister' has also inherited vigour, solid growth, and a long summer flowering period. Praised by enthusiasts, this new variety is ideal for cut flowers or drying. It is also a very resistant perennial plant that adapts to difficult conditions, occasionally tolerating intense heat, humidity, and drought.

Native to the western United States, from Georgia to Michigan via Oklahoma and Ohio, Echinacea purpurea is a perennial with a strong character, unlike anything known, but which boldly colonizes rocky meadows, savannahs, clear undergrowth, and roadside edges in its natural habitat. It belongs to the Asteraceae family, and is a cousin of daisies.

'Green Twister' is a form that appeared spontaneously in a seedling of Echinacea 'Magnus', which has larger and longer-lasting flowers than the typical variety. The plant has an erect tufted growth habit, reaching approximately 90cm (35in) to 1m (3ft) in height and 40-50cm (16-20in) in width. Supported by sturdy and robust stems, it does not weaken or collapse, demonstrating very good durability. The deciduous leaves dry out in winter. They are opposite on the stems, lanceolate in shape, green in colour, and covered in rough hairs. The fragrant flowering period extends from July to the end of summer and is highly visited by butterflies. The branched stems, reddish-green in colour, terminate in a large solitary head measuring 15cm (6in) in diameter. It is centered around a prominent disc, resembling a pompom, composed of tiny florets ranging from brown to orange-red. Around the cone, thin, horizontal, slightly curved ligules or petals spread out. The colour of the ligules changes as the heads mature, creating a splendid gradient of pink, green, and yellow throughout the plant. The fruit is an achene that releases seeds that birds enjoy. This plant firmly and deeply anchors itself in the soil with its highly developed root system.

'Green Twister' offers a subtly original flowering display, pleasant to admire in flowerbeds, as well as in vases. It can be paired with other flowers whose shapes contrast (ornamental tobaccos, daylilies, dwarf red hot pokers), or with Inulas, asters, yarrows, daisies, globe thistles, and phlox. Lighten the scene by mixing in some ornamental grasses such as Stipa tenuifolia, Muhlenbergia capillaris... Magnificent in flowerbeds, the beautiful color of the purple Echinacea is also stunning in fresh or dried flower arrangements.

The scent of Echinacea varies depending on the stage of flowering. Initially, when the florets are in an upright crown, the scent is barely perceptible. At full bloom, as the florets droop as if drained of their strength, it exhales a fine honey scent, very attractive to bees, butterflies, and other insects. Once the head is pollinated, the scent takes on a more vanilla note.

Properties: In homeopathy, its root is used to fight colds and strengthen the immune system. These properties were already used by Native Americans. The name Echinacea comes from the Greek word echinos, which means "hedgehog-like" or "like a hedgehog," and acea, meaning "having the shape of," alluding to the hearts of the flowers. Purpurea means "purple."