Echinacea purpurea Mellow Yellow

The Echinacea purpurea 'Mellow Yellows' is a coneflower that bears fairly tall flowers in a range of yellow shades. Their color varies from opening to fading, from dark mango to pale creamy yellow, passing through dark yellow and canary yellow. This perennial is beloved by butterflies and blooms for a long time, until mid-October, starting from the first year. Its cone-shaped center is orange-brown. The plant, with sturdy stems, maintains a well-defined upright habit in borders while providing good flowers for fresh or dried bouquets.

Native to the western United States, from Georgia to Michigan via Oklahoma and Ohio, Echinacea purpurea (or Rudbeckia purpurea) is a perennial with a strong character. The 'Mellow Yellows' coneflower is a horticultural selection that, once mature, forms an upright clump and measures 80 cm in height and 50 cm in width. This plant does not weaken or collapse, demonstrating excellent stability. The opposite, lanceolate green leaves are covered in rough hairs. The flowering period takes place from July to October, accompanying the blooming of inulas, asters, and ornamental tobaccos, and is highly visited by butterflies. The branched, reddish stems bear at the end of each branch a large inflorescence with a prominent central disc and a conical shape, composed of tiny florets in orange-brown. The cone is surrounded by thin, yellow ligules whose color varies over the weeks, from dark yellow to pale creamy yellow, with a touch of sweet melon yellow. The fruit is an achene that releases seeds that birds are fond of. This plant anchors firmly and deeply in the soil, thanks to its well-developed root system. Its above-ground vegetation is deciduous and dries up in autumn.

The 'Mellow Yellows' purple coneflower is a healthy variety that offers a range of colors on its own, over a long period, to the delight of gardeners. Plant it in large borders and naturalistic or cottage-style garden beds, mixed with other summer flowers for contrasting shapes. Consider yarrows with flat corymbs, generous Phlox, exotic daylilies, and poetic columbines. Plant clusters of lighter asters and voluble grasses with golden spikes. Then create beautiful bouquets of fresh or dried flowers.

The scent of the Echinacea varies depending on the stage of flowering. Initially, when the florets are in an upright crown, the scent is barely perceptible. At full bloom, as the florets droop as if drained of their strength, it emits a delicate honey scent that is 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 fight colds and strengthen the immune system. These properties were already used by Native Americans. The name Echinacea comes from the Greek echinos, which means "hedgehog-like or prickly," and acea, meaning "having the shape of," alluding to the flower heads. Purpurea means "purple."