Most of us have heard of the health benefits of Echinacea, but did you know this medicinal herb came from a very popular, versatile flower genus? Echinacea genus is a member of the daisy or Asteraceae (asters) family. There are several species within this genus, and most are more commonly known as coneflowers.
Interestingly, the word Echinacea comes from the Greek word ekhinos, which means sea urchin or hedgehog. When you get a close look at these flowers, you’ll notice that their seeds bristle out from the central disk like a little hedgehog.
Coneflowers are native to eastern North America, and their natural range spans from Alberta, Canada in the north to Louisiana and Texas in the south, and from Ohio, the Carolinas, and Tennessee in the east to the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in the west. They flower June through August.
It was the Native Americans who discovered that coneflowers had medicinal properties. They were used topically to treat burns, wounds, and insect bites, and as an infusion to treat snakebite. After the arrival of the colonists, the use of the plant for medicinal purposes became widespread—even to treat livestock. Today, Echinacea is used to support lymphatic, circulatory, and respiratory health as well as a detoxicant and to stimulate the immune system.
They’re associated with health, strength, and healing. When researching this flower, I came upon a site that said when given as a gift, a coneflower says, “I hope you feel better.” Any Nora Ephron-movie fans out there? Reading this reminded me of one of my favorites, You’ve Got Mail. You might remember Tom Hanks’ character Joe Fox bringing Meg Ryan’s character Kathleen Kelly a bouquet of daisies (a type of coneflower) when she was sick.
The most common of these flowers in gardens and home landscapes is the purple coneflower (E. purpurea for those of you who prefer the Latin names). It grows about 3-4 feet tall, and its blooms are purple-pink. But other well-known varieties are the E. paradoxa (yellow), E. pallida (pale purple), E. tennesseensis (Tennessee), E. angustifolia (narrow-leaf), and E. laevigata—an endangered species in some parts of the U.S., which is surprising since these flowers are so easy to grow.
Just like the irises I posted about yesterday, the colors of coneflowers are often associated with special significance. White for innocence and purity, purple for royalty, grace, and elegance. Pink is for maternal love and femininity, orange for joy and enthusiasm, and yellow signifies happiness, luck, and success.
Today, the coneflower is one of the two “official wildflowers” in the state of Tennessee (which is one of the reasons I chose this plant for my countdown.) One of the things I love about this flower is that it’s deer resistant. We often have a heard of deer wandering in our yard, so that’s important to me. It’s also drought resistant, which isn’t an issue in Tennessee, but for those of you in the West, it’s a consideration. Although they’re not known to grow wild west of the Rockies, they’re still a great choice in your garden beds. Not only do they add a lot of color to your yard, but they also attract pollinators such as bees and butterflies, and even small birds. A win-win, don’t you think?
You may not be able to purchase these beauties on Amazon, but be sure to enter here for a chance to win a $25 Gift Card anyway. Maybe you can use them for gardening tools, or seeds, or a book!
