One of the first botanical names learned here at the Fairegarden was the purple coneflower, Echinacea purpurea. Having never heard it pronounced, it seemed a good idea to remember the spelling by saying it phonetically, E-china-see-ya with emphasis on the big E and the see. We were into herbs at the time and this plant was reputed to be useful for headaches among other ailments. Many tomes about herbs were purchased and checked out from the local libraries, learning the lore and cultivation requirements of the useful plants.
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Shown above is Echincea ‘Sunrise’.
Fast forward to present day. There is an explosion of interest in this plant now, due in no small part to the breeder’s efforts to introduce new colorways to the species pinky purple and white. The correct pronunciation has been learned, (ek-in-AY-shee-a), but the spelling helper remains embedded in our consciousness.
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Shown above is Echinacea ‘Sundown’.
Some of these new colors were not as hardy or vigorous as the old faithfuls, but the strong have survived to be offered widely at nurseries and home improvement stores.
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Shown above is Echinacea ‘Harvest Moon’ accompanied by Veronica spicata ‘Sunny Border Blue’.
The Big Sky series developed by Richard Saul of ItSaul Plants in Atlanta, Georgia has been responsible for many of these color breakthroughs. The purple E. purpurea was breed with the yellow flowering E. paradoxa to produce these popular varieties.
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Shown above is a group of Echinacea ‘Sundown’ in daughter Semi’s mushroom compost enriched bed.
Last year a new to us species was brought to our attention by good friend and lover of native plants, Gail of Clay And Limestone, Echincea tennesseensis. She even gifted us with one when we went to visit her in Nashville named E. ‘Rocky Top’. This plant has a long tap root unlike the other coneflowers and can grow in the rocky ledges of her area. We have smaller rocks on our slope and Rocky Top has made itself at home. Several more were purchased this spring and one seedling has appeared from plant number one. As with all plants, a mass planting looks best. We love the recurved petals.
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Shown above is E. ‘Rocky Top’ at home in the shed bed amongst Lilium ‘Regale’, Nasella tenuissima and Belamcanda.
The most plentiful coneflowers here are the straight up purple pink of the species. Plants and seeds were brought here in 2000 when we moved from Texas to Tennessee. Various seeds have been saved and sown to provide many plants that are moved to desirable areas when large enough.
For landscape use, the white flowered form, most of which are E. ‘White Swan’ make a nice counterpoint to the pinks.
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You might have noticed that no mention has been made of the odd double cone cultivars or those with green flowers. There is a good reason …(cue the scary music, Night On Bald Mountain by Modeste Moussourgsky*)
…The image above was taken in my garden last August. We have had similar malformed flowers in previous years. Research revealed the cause to be a viral like disease called Aster Yellows. A healthy Echinacea purpurea shows purple ray flowers on a cone-shaped head. Infected with the yellows organism, these flowers turn into distorted, green leaflike structures. Infected plants are usually stunted, often with yellow or reddish leaves. Yellows disease is caused by a microorganism called a phytoplasma.
Phytoplasmas live in the phloem (food conducting tissues) of their host plant. The disease is spread from plant to plant primarily by phloem feeding leafhoppers. The leafhopper acquires the phytoplasma while feeding by inserting its stylet (a long, slender hollow feeding structure) into the phloem of infected plants and withdrawing the phytoplasma with the plant sap. After an incubation period, the insect spreads the disease organism to healthy plants as it feeds. Aster yellows is a disease that affects over 300 species of plants, including ornamentals such as aster, coneflower, zinnia, marigold, chrysanthemum, petunia, and snapdragon. Edibles affected include lettuce, carrot, tomato, and celery. Grasses and grains also are hosts. Weeds that may harbor the disease include plantain, dandelion, and other broad-leafed weeds. The spread of aster yellows is worse in cool, wet summers. Hot dry weather is not favorable for either the phytoplasma or the leafhopper. As with many disease and pest problems, diagnosis is perhaps the most important factor in controlling aster yellows. Infected plants cannot be cured and should be removed. We have removed all plants displaying these symptoms, but it was a couple of years before we realized what was happening and even thought them slightly cool. Now when I see the flowers stacked on flowers types of Echinaceas, or those with green petals, a shudder runs down my spine for it is way too similar to the Yellows abnormalities.
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For more information check out this link to the Missouri Botanical Garden’s Integrated Pest Management site.
Does this mean that we should rip out all susceptible plants? Not in my opinion. What it means here in the Fairegarden is that the host weeds of plantain and dandelion will be swiftly shown the door to the trash can, wrapped in hazmat plastic bags, not thrown in the compost. Any odd looking flower heads will spell the death sentence to the offending plant. It has only been seen on Echinaceas though we grow many of the others that can be affected.
Healthy Echinaceas are too important a plant to pollinators and wildlife to be dismissed. The seed heads are a source of food for the birds and the bees visit the flowering cones. The human pursuit of happiness is also greatly enhanced by the existence of these garden treasures.
In closing, the point of this warning, with the stomach turning descriptions is to recommend extreme vigilance in your own gardens. Look closely at any flowers that seem oddly shaped or the yellowing of foliage. Echinaceas are among the top must grow perennials in most areas. The pros outweigh the cons but be aware of the dangers that lurk.
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But what about the plant shown above? This purchase was made last year while on a trip to a wedding in Pennsylvania. The tag read Echinacea ‘Double Decker’ and it is definitely an Echinacea. It looks like a variation of E. ‘Coconut Lime’ gone awry. I knew it was not what the tag stated and bought it anyway because of the unique petal arrangement. Is it somehow related to the diseased mutants? It has not produced seeds, possibly because the insects cannot manuever on the coneless flower head. Right now it is on the *watch* list. Should it stay or should it go?
Frances
*To see the scene from Disney’s Fantasia featuring this piece of music, click here.
I love this species, and you have some of my favorite cultivars–and ones that are proving that they have staying power. So many of those hybrid give up by the first summer and I never see them again. I adore coneflowers (and liatris now, too). That info on the diseas was most helpful! Thank you! And I agee, get rid of those host weds first with a vigilant eye!
I love your E-china-see-yas!!! hahaha. Great photos. I had Asters Yellows on some of my Echinaceas last summer. Had to pull them all out. My buddy extension agent said to remove the infected plants. Turned out to be only one or two plants, though many blooms. So far none has reappeared this summer. (though in my mind it was later in the year last year)
This summer, I’ve had to remove 4 Coneflowers that I suspect were infected with Aster yellows. There are a couple more I’m keeping my eye on. If the foliage of your last Coneflower looks healthy, I suggest letting it stay. If the foliage starts to droop, yank it out immediately.
E-china-see-ya LOL, Actually I knew it as the supplement before I got into gardening. I am yet to try growing these. Those new colors look splendid.
Every fance Cone flower I have ever bought has died. Hmmmmmmm I have in the past noticed this virus in our garden. I didn’t know exactly what it was or how it spread. Now i do thanks for the info Frances.
I just cut my coneflowers back and spred the cones to other areas where I want more plants. I am always amazed of the millions of seed only a few become flowering plants. Somehow a seed falls on just the right ground and the miracle happens. Nature! I love it. I enjoyed seeing all the different colors of Echinacea.
Donna
I am with Lisa, all the fancy ones are dead, but not because of asters yellow. I think they have weak DNA. I grow lots of E. purpurea and it reseeds happily. This morning I saw a goldfinch on one of my seed heads. I know these birds are common for many, but it was a very uncommon event in my urban garden.
I like night on bald mountain 🙂 And Moussorgsky (who needs a pronounciation helper) has a nice piece called promenade or something that used to give my fingers a great workout on the piano (not that my kids will ever let me play solo anymore, they want to help). Anyway, have you seen the new pink poodle echinacea at terra nova’s website? No ray petals – looks like a zinnia but perennial. I might pick a few of those up in a couple of years if they show up at Lowe’s.
I have good, reliable echinacea ‘Prairie Splendor’ and a few ‘White Swan’ and ‘Ruby Star’. Seeds from my PS that I sowed last fall are getting ready to bloom. I have sown seeds of white swan, too. I think it will take a few more years for the designer colors to sort out the survival of the fittest and most consistent.
Cameron
Echinacea is one of the plants that I have had the least problem with *knock on wood*. You’ve got some really pretty varieties. 🙂
My plants in one garden had this virus last summer and a very few (in a total other garden) showed it this summer. Out it went into the trash can. What a pain it is but doesn’t seem to stay around the next season instead manifesting itself each year. I am happy about that too. I say leave the double decker and watch it. It’s pretty and looks normal to me.
I definitely want to add some more coneflowers in the future. You have a good variety! I like the big sky ones but they just don’t last long enough. We’re down to one from the two we had. I’ll be scoping out the discount racks pretty soon!
Beautiful variety of coneflower. I was taught e ki NAY see uh
But, that’s okay. We’re still talking the same language! 🙂
Thanks for the educational heads up Frances. I will take heed. Love ‘harvest moon’ ~ that color is a knock out. I am not a fan of the doubles at all. Not sure why? but I like all the new color variations of the good old standby. I have found them to be one of the most carefree & reliable of perennials ~ can’t imagine gardening without them…
That hummingbird was definitely a great ‘happy accident’! I bet you were beaming with joy after that shot 🙂
‘E.Sundown’ is such a perfect name for that flower.
hey frances, thanks for the heads up on the aster yellow…i will be on the look out. so many of my warm weather plants are having a hard time with the cool/wet summer we are having.
Grown from seeds I have ‘White Swan’. She’s so god looking in front of that read leafed Smokebush. This year I bought the ‘Green Wisard’ and I hope he’ll bloom soon. Our first E-China-See-Ya’s were horrible! Named ‘Magnus’ and the most ugly flower we’ve ever planted in our garden. Why? Since the colour of ‘Magnus’ didn’t fit in, standing in front of the house (which doesn’t look god with pink tones at all) I was a dreadful view. I even tried to giv him away to a neighbour who refused to take him, since the colour where so ugly. Magnus doesn’t look that bad placed in a better space but that made us a bit sceptical agains those E-China-See-Ya’s. You have a lot of them that looks just great! Sad to hear about that diseas. Now we’ll go to the sea just for the day. The first time this year (wonder why) and I can hardly wait to get my feet into that sand on the beach =) Have a great day / kram gittan
I must expand further than just the purple coneflowers for sure. You know one of my Susans did that ‘I’m on steroids” thingy. The diseased plants have been removed from here as well. Thanks for the info, I like you thought it was cool, at first!
I have never seen a cone flower, even in flower shows.We have most of the English flowers, though.E.purpurea is very pretty. Does the coneflower come in blue too?
Firstly, I love Echinacea no matter how you slice up its pronunciation (HA!). But, seriously, the problem with Latin is, no one speaks it any more and the problem with botanical Latin is that even Garden Authorities ™ pronounce Latin names differently. Heck, I haven’t even heard a consistent pronunciation of coir (core vs. choir). If anyone is interested, the Fine Gardening Pronunciation Guide offers sound files for many plants.
What a wonderful collection you have! We have a lot of the same ones you do. I hope to build on our collection to add them to the new bed. We’ve got a good start on it!
Frances,
I was looking for a link to your new email and I couldn’t find one. The package came yesterday! Thank you very much for the seeds. 🙂
I’m still chuckling over your pronunciation of echinacea; makes sense to me:) I have often asked for a particular plant at a nursery, only to be very tactfully corrected in my pronunciation, kind of like the time I ordered salad NEE-KOIS in a restaurant and was kindly given salad NEE-SWAH:)
Thanks for all the valuable information about the dangers to coneflowers; I can’t imagine what I would do if a disease suddenly spread through all of mine! I only have the ordinary cultivars, but want to add some of the Big Sky series if I can ever find them on sale. This has been a feast for my eyes this morning, Frances!
Hi Francs, good information. I would just watch the last one. You’ll know soon enough if it has the yellows. So far, I don’t have any which do, but you never know when they will hit. I saw your comment about ‘Tiki Torch’ and will let you know if it overwinters in the garden. I hope it does.~~Dee
Hello Frances~~ You know how much I love these beauties in my garden, but they look especially beautiful in yours! The first photo is a perfect example of why i’ve decided to invite other echinacea flavors into the mix! What a stunning photo….and Rocky Top is looking very uplifting! Thank you for all the link loves…they made me smile! I do hope we get a date worked out for my annual fall visit! Have a delicious weekend. gail
I have such trouble spelling it and have to doublecheck the spelling everytime I write it. You have some gorgeous varieties there – I especially like the “White Swan”. Deer ate my purpurea this year, but I may get a bloom or two yet…I’ll be on the lookout for the phytoplasmas!
Hi Frances, I owe you a real-email…loved your post on echinaceas and the PSA on aster yellows. We’ve never seen it up here, whether because we’re just lucky or because the phytoplasma doesn’t survive here we don’t know.
My biggest coneflower challenge has been with the Meadowbrite series, and I’ve stopped trying to grow them. No disrespect to the Chicago Botanical Gardens where they were bred, but I think the Chicago climate (where in winter things generally get cold and stay that way) probably suit them better than our erratic freeze-thaw cycles up here.
I have several of the doubles as well as the greens and they’ve been very good (Green Envy is my fave, sorry Frances).
This year I added some more of the new colours and we’ll see how they fare. My observations in the past couple of years is that they’re rushed to market and not necessarily well-grown enough to survive. Plants that I’ve gotten from nurseries who have grown them on for at least a few months have been much better.
I learned a little about that kind of flower having a disease last year, but your post filled in the details. Thanks for the information. You have a nice assortment of coneflowers. Have you noticed whether the bees and butterflies go to all of them pretty much equally, or do they prefer certain ones over others?
Hi Frances
Aster Yellows is bad news indeed and you are right to alert folk.
Over here I grow the purpurea and white swan. I love them. I don’t think any other perennial has had such meteoric ascent in popularity over recent years. They have it all.
Wow…looks like you have a nursery…lots of different kinds of coneflowers.
Have to admit Sundown is my favorite.
Mine are just purple.
I knew those leaf hoppers were no good.
I sometimes use neem oil to help but not in these temps.
You gave us a great deal of information BUT
what about pruning ? Can you tell I know little about them ? 🙂
Thank you for this public service announcement. Out by the pond I have some goldenrod exhibiting this sort of problem, I was wondering what was going on but now, thanks to you, I know. I will be addressing the issue immediately.
This is just one of the reason I love the internet and the blogosphere.
Love the Sunrise yellow. White Swan is one of my favorites too — makes such a wonderful combination with the regular Purple Coneflowers.
I am very impressed with your description of Echinacea tennesseensis. Here on my own rocky top of Round Rock, I cannot grow anything but poor puny E-china-SEE-ya, except in pots. Loved your Echinacea Sundown–bee-u-tee-full!
So much info on the plants themselves and the disease; you seemed to skip over the medicinal use. During winters here, when we feel the oncoming of a cold, we’ll take one Echinacea tablet to help ward off the onslaught.
Frances, Can you help me locate your posts on making hypertufa containers?? My gardening buddies and I are going to try this Friday! 🙂
A beautiful blog! Lovely pics, great theme, interesting info. Thank you!
Yep I’m the one and only coneflower killer, all the fancy ones I have planted barely made one season let alone two. They should take these off the market. Guess what Meg just brought some home on Saturday, DUH…
Frances, I think Aster Yellows may also affect Coreopsis. Several years ago I had Coreopsis lanceolata growing in the corner bed that kept producing this kind of abnormal blooms. I yanked them all out and haven’t seen it on anything else recently. Thanks for the info!