Echinacea purpurea Kismet White - Purple coneflower

Echinacea Kismet® blanc, or White for English speakers, is a variety of Echinacea selected for its compact and erect habit, its large and particularly durable flowers, and its hardiness. It is a reliable and faithful perennial that flowers from a young age, and throughout the summer. Its flowers are of a beautiful size, pure white around a wide dark green bulging heart that turns golden. Truly charming, simple and generous, this plant, favoured by enthusiasts, is ideal in a pot or as a border plant. It is also a low-maintenance plant that adapts to all well-drained soils, even occasionally dry ones. 

Originally from the western United States, from Georgia to Michigan via Oklahoma and Ohio, Echinacea purpurea is a perennial with a strong character, which doesn't resemble anything known, but which boldly colonizes rocky meadows, savannas, clear undergrowth, and roadside edges in its natural habitat. 'Kismet White' is a dwarf form of this robust pioneer. It forms a dense and stocky clump 40-45cm (16-18in) tall and 60cm (24in) wide. This plant doesn't weaken, doesn't collapse, and shows very good posture. The opposite lanceolate leaves, dark green in colour, are covered in rough hairs. The abundant flowering lasts from July to October, and is visited by butterflies. The branched stems are topped with a solitary inflorescence, 8cm (3in) in diameter, with a prominent, rough, initially dark green central disc, surrounded by pure white petals or ligules. The fruit is an achene that releases seeds that birds love. This plant firmly and deeply anchors itself in the soil, thanks to its well-developed root system.

Echinacea Kismet blanc can be grown in pots or in open ground. This perennial fits well in border plantings mixed with other varieties from the Kismet series or in the company of compact Inulas, Tritomas, Achilleas, daisies, Echinops, and Coreopsis. Lighten up the scene by mixing in some ornamental grasses like Stipa tenuifolia, Muhlenbergia capillaris... Splendid in flower beds, the beautiful colours of the 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 "prickly or like a hedgehog," and acea, which means "having the shape of," referring to the appearance of the flower's heart.