Echinacea Summer Breeze - Purple Coneflower

Echinacea 'Summer Breeze' or Coneflower is a robust, hardy and accommodating flowering perennial. Its flowers, sometimes reaching a diameter of 10 cm (4in) from June to September evolve throughout their blooming. Their centre is initially green and flat and gradually swells to become a large conical, very warm golden yellow bud surrounded by a row of long and slender yellow florets that stand out distinctly. The achenes (their fruits) take over in autumn to the delight of birds that feast on them. Create magnificent fresh bouquets or incorporate them into dried arrangements where they will last for a long time.

Originating from North America, where it has naturally colonized numerous states, Echinacea has been present in gardens for many years. It originally spontaneously settled in wild spaces: vast meadows, forest edges, roadsides... As a result, it is content with any type of soil and climate and displays a hardiness that gardeners appreciate. However, it prefers deep, well-drained soils and will establish itself more easily (and therefore withstand drought later on) if initially placed in moist soil. Note that it may take its time to settle, but then will be resistant and long-lasting. It thrives in the sun or light shade. It requires almost no care, except for removing faded flowers.

It is a herbaceous plant belonging to the Asteraceae family, with an upright and bushy habit. The leaves are deciduous, dark green, hairy and quite thick, lanceolate, longer and more numerous at the base, but alternate and sparse along the stems. The stems are long and sturdy with large flower heads at their tops. The numerous crossbreeding, from which most varieties now originate, has multiplied the characteristics of these plants resulting in many colours and shapes. They all consist of a cone-shaped or cylindrical centre that can become very prominent, as with 'Summer Breeze', surrounded by ligules of various length, arranged in one or several rows, giving it the simple appearance of a large daisy or, a tousled pompom. The variations are limitless, and everyone will find their favourite cultivar among the available options. They also enliven the garden by attracting pollinators.

'Summer Breeze' is an easy perennial that illuminates flower beds all summer with many long-lasting flowers. It brings the essential yellow colour to a multicolored bed, surrounded by Lupins, Achilleas, and Irises. It also enhances a palette of blues with softer companions, such as the Delphinium 'Pacific Summer Skies' or the Phlox divaricata 'Chattahoochee', between which it easily fits with its intermediate height (65 cm (26in)).