Echinacea, also known as echinacea, or cone, is a perennial herbaceous plant belonging to the Asteraceae family. It is native to North America and has now been widely introduced around the world. Echinacea chrysanthemum flowers are gorgeous, the flowering period is very long, and after the petals fall, the fruit of the branch can be from summer to winter, which has a high ornamental value, and is very suitable for the decoration of flowers and flowers. So if you want to grow a good purple echinacea, you must understand its characteristics.
The morphological characteristics of echinacea are very unique, it is a rare purple flower in nature, the plant height of echinacea can reach 60-80cm, the stem is erect and smooth**. The leaves are oblong-elliptic with serrated edges and short petioles. The flowers are pure purple, about 2 cm in diameter, the peduncle is short, and the corolla is tubular. The fruit is achene, triangular and conical, with a hard shell and longitudinal ridges.
1. Growth habits.
Echinacea is adaptable and prefers sunny, well-ventilated environments, while also being able to tolerate some shade. The suitable growth temperature is 15 -25, and the cold tolerance is good, and it can tolerate low temperatures of about -10. Echinacea purpurea is less demanding on soil, but it grows best in well-drained, organic-rich sandy loams.
2. Planting method.
1.Sowing time: Sowing in spring or autumn, spring sowing will be ready to bloom in the same year, autumn sowing will be required until the following year. The amount of seeds is about 5g per square meter, and the temperature is above 10 to be planted.
2.Seeding method.
Choose a flat, well-drained plot for sowing. Seeds are sown by strip or spread, covered with a thin layer of soil and gently compacted. After sowing, it is necessary to water in time to keep the soil moist, which is more conducive to the germination of seeds.
3.Conservation management.
At the seedling stage, it is necessary to water, weed, and fertilize in time to promote the growth of seedlings. During the growing period, keep the soil moist, but not too wet, just a little moist as long as the soil is slightly moist. Echinacea purpurea can be fertilized appropriately when planting, and foliar fertilizers such as potassium dihydrogen phosphate are the most suitable, which can help to increase the number of flowers.
4.Collection of seeds.
Echinacea purpurea seeds generally ripen in autumn and winter, and can be harvested when the fruit turns green to brown. After the fruit is harvested, it is placed in a dry and ventilated place to dry, and then the fruit is rubbed by hand to remove the seeds. Before sowing, soak the seeds in warm water for 24 hours to promote germination.
In conclusion, echinacea is a plant with high ornamental value, and by understanding its growth habits and mastering the correct planting methods, we can successfully grow beautiful echinacea.