Echinacea plants are herbaceous perennials native to North America. They have large, daisy-like flowers with cone-shaped centers and petals that can be pink, purple, or white. The plants have narrow, lance-shaped leaves that grow in an alternate pattern along the stems. Echinacea plants are easy to grow and require little maintenance. They are drought tolerant and can tolerate some frost. They are attractive to pollinators and also make good cut flowers.
Planning Your Garden With Echinacea
As you plan your garden, it's important to think about the spacing, size, light, and nutrient requirements of all of your plant and how they'll grow together.
Some plants require more water than others, while other plants require dry soil. At the same time, some plants prefer full sun, and other plants need the shade to survive.
By studying what each plant requires and planning ahead where all of your plants will grow best, you can optimize your garden space.
| Life Cycle | Echinacea is a perennial. |
| USDA Zone | The USDA Hardiness Zone range for Echinacea is 3-9. |
| Cold Tolerance | Echinacea is hardy in USDA plant hardiness zones 3-9, meaning it can tolerate temperatures down to 28. |
| Days to harvest | The minimum number of days to harvest for echinacea is 90-120 days. |
| Average size | The average size of a full grown echinacea plant is between 1 and 3 feet tall and 1 to 2 feet wide. |
| Spacing requirements | Echinacea should be planted about 18 inches apart in a sunny spot with well-drained soil. |
| Sun tolerance | Echinacea is tolerant of full sun to partial shade. It prefers well-drained soil and can tolerate drought once established. |
| Shade tolerance | Echinacea is a moderately shade tolerant plant. It can tolerate partial shade, but prefers full sun. |
| Water requirements | Echinacea plants prefer moist, well-drained soil and should be watered deeply and regularly to keep the soil evenly moist. During the summer months, the plants should be watered once or twice a week, depending on the weather. During the winter months, the plants should be watered less frequently, about once every two weeks. In general, the plants should receive about 1 inch of water each week. |
| Fertilizer | The amount of fertilizer used when growing echinacea depends on the type of fertilizer used and the soil conditions. Generally, a balanced fertilizer with an N-P-K ratio of 10-10-10 should be applied at a rate of 1-2 pounds per 100 square feet. It is important to follow the instructions on the fertilizer package for the best results. |
| Soil pH | The optimum pH for growing echinacea is 6.0 to 7.5. |
Why Echinacea is Popular
People like to grow echinacea for its beautiful flowers and medicinal properties. Echinacea is an herbaceous perennial with daisy-like blooms that come in a variety of colors. The plant has long been used in traditional medicine for its anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and immune-boosting properties. It is also a popular choice for gardeners because it is easy to grow and requires minimal maintenance.
Companion Plants For Echinacea
Companion planting is a great way to maximize your garden space and get the most out of your plants. By planting certain plants together, you can help each other thrive. In some cases, you can even help each other repel pests.
Popular companion plants for echinacea include:
Common Pests For Echinacea
Plant pests are a common problem for gardeners. By understanding what pests are common for your plants, you can take steps to prevent them from damaging your plants.
When you grow echinacea, keep an eye out for these common pests:
- leafhoppers
- japanese beetles
- aphids
- whiteflies
- spider mites
- beetles
- cutworms
USDA Zones
USDA zones are a popular way of determining which plants can grow in your area. Zones tell you when your average first and last frost date are, as well as how cold you can expect it to get in the winter.
Our site works best if you choose your zone from the list below. If you do not know your USDA zone, then you can use our zone map.
