Echinacea purpurea Magnus - Purple Coneflower

Echinacea purpurea 'Magnus', also known as Rudbeckia purpurea 'Magnus', is a variety that stands out for its bright-coloured and exceptionally large heads on a sturdy plant. The inflorescences are made up of lilac-pink ligules with a hint of red, surrounding an orange-brown cone, and carried by robust stems. This tall perennial with an upright habit blooms from July to September. Popular among enthusiasts, it is ideal for cutting or drying. It is also a very resilient plant that adapts to difficult conditions, tolerating intense heat, humidity, and drought. It can even grow in poor soils.

Originally from the western United States, Rudbeckia purpurea is a tenacious perennial that does not resemble anything known, but confidently colonizes rocky meadows, savannas, clear understories, and roadsides in its natural habitat. 'Magnus' is a form obtained in Sweden in 1985, with larger and more long-lasting flowers than the type. It has an erect clump-forming habit, reaching a height of 100 cm (39in) and a width of 40 cm (16in). This plant does not weaken or collapse, and shows excellent durability. The deciduous, lanceolate, green leaves are covered with rough hairs. The fragrant flowering occurs from July until the end of summer, accompanying the flowering of inulas, asters, and ornamental tobaccos. It is highly visited by butterflies. The reddish-green, branched stems are topped with a solitary inflorescence in a large 15cm (6in)-diameter head, with a prominent disc of tiny florets, orange-brown, and horizontal thin reddish-pink ligules. The fruit is an achene that releases seeds that birds enjoy. This plant firmly and deeply anchors itself in the soil with its highly developed root system.

Rudbeckia purpurea 'Magnus' offers a very bright flowering, pleasant to contemplate on slightly misty autumn days. It is used in border plantings mixed with other pink flowers with contrasting shapes (ornamental tobaccos, daylilies, carnations) or in the company of inulas, asters, yarrows, daisies, echinops, phlox, and lightens the scene by mixing in some ornamental grasses like Stipa tenuifolia, Muhlenbergia capillaris. Splendid in flower beds, the beautiful colour of purple Echinacea 'Magnus' is also stunning in fresh or dried flower arrangements.

The scent of Echinacea varies depending on the stage of flowering. Initially, when the florets are upright, the scent is barely perceptible. At full bloom, when the florets droop as if drained of their strength, it exhales a delicate honey scent, very attractive to bees, butterflies, and other insects. Once the head is pollinated, the scent takes on a more vanilla note.

Properties: In homeopathy, its root is used to combat colds and strengthen the immune system. These properties were already used by Native Americans. The name Echinacea comes from the Greek word echinos, which means 'hedgehog-like' or 'like a hedgehog', and acea, meaning 'having the shape of', alluding to the hearts of the flowers. Purpurea means 'purple'.