Echinacea purpurea SunSeekers Rainbow - Purple coneflower

Echinacea SunSeekers 'Rainbow' delights lovers of soft and changing colours. Its large fluffy flowers bloom in light yellow before quickly evolving into a range of pinks: coral, lavender, salmon, powdery pink. In the height of summer, all these colours are present at the same time on the plant. The flowers have a brown central cone surrounded by numerous overlapping petals. Compact and floriferous, this variety is excellent in borders, at the front of flower beds, in pots, and as a cut flower. Easy to pair with all other plants in the garden or on the terrace, its flowers attract numerous pollinating insects.

Echinacea SunSeekers 'Rainbow' is a recent horticultural hybrid. This cultivar is part of the remarkable SunSeekers series that stands out from other perennial Echinaceas with its unique shapes and colours that do not fade over time. SunSeekers also have exceptional vigour, with these perennials producing masses of flowers on short stems, above narrow dark green leaves. This variety forms a dense and sturdy clump, reaching 60cm in height and 40cm in width. The plant demonstrates excellent durability. The opposite lanceolate leaves are dark green and covered in rough hairs. The abundant flowering occurs from July to September and is very popular with butterflies. The branched stems end in a solitary head inflorescence with a prominent, bristly, orange-brown central disk. It is surrounded by petals or ligules with frayed edges, arranged in several rows. The fruit is an achene that releases seeds sought after by birds. This plant firmly and deeply anchors itself in the soil with its highly developed root system.

Echinacea SunSeekers 'Rainbow' is easy to grow in ordinary soil. Very floriferous, this perennial is ideal for both beginner gardeners and enthusiasts of endless and colourful blooms. It is also a good flower for cutting or drying. Plant this Echinacea at the edge of a flower bed with flowers of different shapes. Consider sage, carnations, asters, as well as daylilies. Add clumps of annuals like Nigella and grasses like Pennisetum.

A medicinal plant: In homeopathy, the root of the Echinacea 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 "bristly or like a hedgehog" and acea meaning "having the shape of", referring to the appearance of the flower's centre.