Echinacea purpurea White
Take the colour out of a coneflower and the structure shows. White Echinacea purpurea holds broad creamy-white rays around a coppery-orange cone, the petals sitting almost flat rather than reflexed, on strong upright stems over coarse dark green leaves. As the flowers age the rays pale further and the cone darkens, which keeps the plant interesting for weeks. Flowering runs December to April.
White coneflower is easier to place than the pinks and does more work in a mixed planting, holding its own beside grasses, achillea and salvias without fighting them. It suits prairie and cottage borders, cutting beds and a large sunny container. The flowers last well over a week in a vase, and the standing cones feed goldfinches through autumn.
Plant in full sun in free-draining soil of reasonable fertility, spacing plants around 45 cm apart. Coneflowers dislike winter wet more than summer dryness, so improve heavy clay before planting rather than after. Expect three to five strong years, and lift and divide in early spring when the centre of the clump starts to thin out.
Grows around 0.5 to 0.7 m tall, the clump about 0.45 m wide.
Trimming: Cut the old stems down at the end of winter, leaving the cones standing through the cold months. Removing the first flush of stems as they finish, rather than shearing the whole plant, keeps later buds coming.
Deadheading: Deadhead the earliest flowers to push the display further into autumn, then stop and let the last cones stand. The seed heads are worth keeping for the birds and for winter shape.
Fertilising: Feed lightly in early spring with a balanced fertiliser and mulch around rather than over the crown. Too much nitrogen produces leaf, weak stems and fewer flowers.
Watering: Water regularly through the first summer, then only during long dry spells. Established plants tolerate drought well and dislike constantly damp soil.
Pest Control: Snails and slugs on emerging spring shoots do the most damage. Aphids cluster under buds, and thrips can distort flowers in a hot dry season.
Disease Management: Crown rot follows wet soil and is the usual cause of losses. Aster yellows occasionally causes green, deformed cones, and there is no treatment, so lift and bin affected plants.
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