Echinacea purpurea 'Alan's Pride'

Echinacea purpurea 'Alan's Pride' is a Echinacea with that beautiful lime green or apple green that Echinaceas can sometimes offer us. Around a very prominent, plump and rounded cone of orange colour, narrow petals bloom, flat to slightly curved, of this bright and acidic colour, a vitamin green tending towards white and yellow. This selection is an excellent summer border plant, of medium height, upright and vigorous. Very melliferous and nectariferous, under the incessant ballet of butterflies, it enlivens the garden.

Echinacea purpurea or Purple Coneflower is part of the Asteraceae family. It is a herbaceous perennial endemic to North America, found in the dry prairies of the eastern United States or in sparsely wooded areas, heathlands or cultivated land. It measures between 60cm (24in) and 1.20m (4ft). The central florets form a conical dome bristling with rough, amber-coloured tubes tipped with reddish-brown, becoming more prominent and darker as the flower blooms. They are surrounded by large heads, pink to violet in the species, and sometimes white. The colours of the flower fade over time. The ligules of the collar spread horizontally and then often adopt a widely involute (inflexed downward or toward the stem) habit. The stems that bear the flowers are very stiff, dark green to purple. The dark green leaves are lanceolate, pubescent, and become sessile at the top of the stem.

The Echinacea purpurea 'Alan's Pride' is a relatively low variety, forming a dense tuft about 65cm (26in) in height on average with a width of about 40cm (16in). Vigorous, it produces numerous flowers between the months of July and September. Of medium size, they have a particularly prominent central core, amber or orange in colour. The ligules surrounding this cone are quite narrow, spoon-shaped. They are slightly curved, giving the flower a touch of whimsy. Another original aspect is their colour, a vibrant lime green, very bright.

The 'Alan's Pride' Echinacea prefers rich, sandy, and well-drained soils. It is not picky about soil pH. Plant it in full sun or light partial shade, on the edge of a border or in a flower meadow. It is hardy and can tolerate periods of drought. In naturalistic gardens, with other undemanding perennials and grasses, it expresses its full potential. But it is versatile and brings vivacity and simplicity to roses and phlox in a romantic garden. Pruning faded flowers stimulates new blooms. However, you can leave some stems and heads in winter: they are very graphic, but more importantly, the seeds are highly prized by birds, especially goldfinches and siskins. As a cut flower or for drying, it enhances bouquets. It is also a resilient and adaptable plant in relation to the soil. It is easy to sow, always with success, in ordinary garden soil.

Note: the different species of Echinacea, especially purpurea, pallida, and angustifolia, are panaceas in Native American pharmacopoeia. They are reputed to be immune stimulants and promote the healing of winter illnesses (colds, flu, respiratory ailments). All cultivars have retained the properties of the original species.