Purple Coneflower

purple coneflower

It seems early in the season, but my purple coneflowers are blooming. The bumblebees, butterflies and hummingbirds are attracted to them and today the bees were the more frequent visitor. I planted one or two plants a few years ago, and now they have taken over the area outside our front door. They are stately plants and do well in a vase in the house.

As with most of my perennials, I deadhead the flowers after they have bloomed and in the fall, trim the dying plant about an inch from the ground. They return with more blooms every year. Purple Coneflower, also known as Echinacea  is thought to have mild antibiotic properties.

 Echinacea purpurea

  "The flowers of Echinacea species are used to make an extremely popular herbal tea, purported to help strengthen the immune system; an extract is also available in tablet or liquid form in pharmacies and health food stores."