Echinacea

Gardening Requirements:

Habit: for both garden display and for cut flowers in the house, Echinacea remain one of the most popular of summer flowers in South Africa. Sun lovers, dahlias must get at least six hours of sun to flower properly. They come in three forms, pompon, decorative and cactus and offer a wide range of colors in addition to white, ranging from yellow and salmon to light pink, deep red, purple, apricot, cream and many more as well as a variety of bicolor. Echinacea look best when seen in groups pushing their heads through a lawn or ground cover – flowering from August into September. Growing in sun or shade, they do best when protected from the heat of the midday sun.

Planting: Echinacea will grow in any soil, but ensure that soil is moisture retentive for best results. Dig holes at least 45cm deep and in bottom 15cm mix soil with a third compost or well-rotted kraal manure. Next add 5cm soil and water. On this damp layer place tuber, cover with 5cm soil and water again. As plant grow so hole should be filled with more soil till level with surrounding soil. Tubers do not need much water to commence growth but once hole completely filled soak twice weekly.

Feeding and watering: Once planted keep well watered to depth 15cm after every four to five days. No feeding needed until after flowering, when plants should be give regular doses of liquid fertilizer to build up bulbs for following season. Stop feeding once leaves turn yellow and tail of watering. Then either lifts bulbs or cut off leaves and allows them to remain in ground.

The most important points to remember when planting Echinacea are:

In addition to preparing soil well and watering copiously, is to plant en masse and preferably to group the same colors together. This makes for greater impact on the over-all scene. Echinacea are one of the most successful species which attracts Birds and Butterflies. Also remember the heights and grade them properly with the tall verities at the back. Echinacea are also very well suited to containers – both for sun and shade. Echinacea 'Kim's Mop Head’ or Echinacea purpurea 'Kim's Mop Head' are one of the most common ones you will find gardeners growing in their gardens and are also easily available. Bulk seed Echinacea can be bought from stores, but it is better to plant already established flowers instead of echinacea seeds to guarantee maximum growth. There is an extract of Echinacea which is used as Echinacea tincture. The Echinacea 'Green Envy’ is an easy to grow flower that yields stunning light green fading to pink daisy-like flowers.

Echinacea, Health Benefits And Echinacea Side Effects:

There are not many researches made on Echinacea benefits up to date but it has been found that it has positive effect in diminishing respiratory infections. There are also people who make Echinacea tea with its leaves this Echinacea liquid is supposed to protect people from cold and flu. However, according to many researches Echinacea used for cold does not have any effect in children or in adults. Side effects from Echinacea usage are rare and not serious. If you feel any of adverse effects or experience anxiety or distress, stop the usage of Echinacea straight away. In the case of an Echinacea overdose, antidote treatment comprises of instant medication by a doctor. Echinacea overdose treatment will be recommended depending on the cause of the Echinacea overdose.