Echinacea purpurea Paradiso Yellow - seeds

Echinacea purpurea 'Paradiso Yellow' is a variety of this generous perennial with yellow flowers. It is fairly tall, with an upright habit and presents flower heads of a warm and soft yellow, with prominent orange centres and trailing ligules. They bloom from July to September and are loved by butterflies. The robust Echinacea is ideal in flower beds and makes beautiful bouquets of fresh or dried flowers. It is easy to sow in ordinary soil.

Native to the western United States, from Georgia to Michigan through Oklahoma and Ohio, the Echinacea is a perennial with a strong character which confidently colonises rocky meadows, savannas, clear undergrowth and roadside edges in its natural environment. This formidable pioneer shows a dense and erect tufted habit, 1 m tall and about 40 cm wide, with rapid growth. The deciduous, lanceolate, green, opposite leaves are covered in rough hairs. The fragrant flowering takes place from July until the end of summer, accompanying that of inulas, asters and ornamental tobaccos, and is loved by butterflies.

'Paradiso Yellow' is a variety that forms a tuft 80 cm tall and 40 cm wide when mature. Its reddish-green, branched stems are topped with a solitary inflorescence in a large 8 cm diameter head, with a prominent disc, like a cone of tiny coppery-orange florets. The outer collar is composed of slightly trailing yellow ligules. The fruit is an achene, releasing seeds that birds love. This plant firmly and deeply anchors itself in the soil, thanks to its highly developed root system.

Echinacea is a very robust plant that adapts to difficult conditions, occasionally tolerating intense heat, humidity, and drought. It even manages to grow in poor soils. It has a flowering period that can be enjoyed in summer and early autumn. It is very beautiful in the middle of a flower bed, mixed with flowers of contrasting shapes, such as daylilies, yarrow, asters, salvias, thistles, or phlox. Clumps of grasses complete and lighten the scene.

Properties: In homoeopathy, its root is used to fight against colds and to strengthen the immune system. These properties were first used by Native Americans. The name Echinacea comes from the Greek echinos which means "bristly or like a hedgehog" and acea for "having the shape of", alluding to the hearts of the flowers. Purpurea means "purple".