The Coneflower is a perennial plant and its scientific name is Echinacea purpurea. The other name by which the coneflower is popularly known is Echinacea.  It is a craze amongst all people who are conscious about their health. There are about nine species of the Coneflower plant but the flowers with which we are most acquainted with belongs to the species E.purpurea which includes the purple coneflower and the white coneflower which is also known as “swan”.

The Coneflower holds is origin to the open woods and prairies of Ohio and Iowa south to Georgia and Louisiana The planting period of the Coneflower is in spring or winter and blooming period is from mid summer till winters. In order to grow the Coneflower requires a sunny area and rich, well-drained and fertile soil. If the soil is not fertile then addition of a little compost and supplementing it with a good organic fertilizer is required The plant can grow up to the height of 3 to 4 feet high and produce flowers 4 to 6 inches across. In maximum of the species the petals droop after growing outward from the cone. This is one of the reasons why the coneflower is also called droops in Ozarks.

The Coneflower plant is very easy to grow from seeds but in order to do that the Coneflower Plant seeds need to be sown in early spring,. The seeds need to be sown 1/4″ deep and 2″ apart. Alternatively, the seeds can be planted about 2 months before the first fall of frost. By doing this the plant gets enough time to become established, and although they won’t bloom the first year it is planted late, they will bloom much better the next year. The Coneflower does not require much care but regular weeding of the plant is necessary. The Coneflower plant can also be purchased from nurseries and garden centers but they are very highly priced.

The new plants and seedlings of the Coneflower need to be watered until they get established .Once they start growing well, they automatically thrive on moisture that they get from rain except in areas that are extremely dry.

The seedlings and young Coneflower plants need to be protected from rabbits and hedgehogs as they find the think new Coneflower shoots very tasty. The Coneflower is a little fussy if the area where it is grown is very moist. The Coneflower likes dry soil, but

The Coneflower is also used as medicine to fight many different diseases. For making medicines the root and some parts of the flower top are used. It is most commonly used to fight infections and boost the immune system of the body. The Coneflower is also used to make tinctures, syrups, antiseptics, salves, sprays, and many other simple remedies. The Coneflower is also used to make herbal teas which are used to fight against viruses and relieve people from stress.

Apart from all this the Coneflower is also very useful and it’s a beautiful addition to the garden of perennial beds and borders. They also look very beautiful when used as a showy backdrop for low-growing summer annuals or perennials The Coneflower is also drought resistant.