Prairie beauties

Echinaceas, also known as coneflowers, are North American prairie plants that provide colour in the garden from summer into autumn, says Camilla Phelps

- Camilla Phelps

ECHINACEAS have become a key plant in summer borders over the past few decades. When grown in drifts, among summer-flowering perennials and ornamental grasses, they are a signature plant of the prairie planting style.

These are North American native plants that originate in the open country of the central and Eastern USA. Prairie-style planting is inspired by these landscapes where perennial flowers grow across large areas, alongside grasses, often in quite harsh conditions. This look has been translated into more domestic settings by the godfather of the ‘new perennial’ prairie gardening style, Dutch designer Piet Oudolf. Echinaceas have grown in popularity as his free-flowing planting schemes have been developed in many public and private landscapes.

Vibrant summer colours

In the home garden, echinaceas add vibrant summer colours to borders, from classic burnt oranges and pinks right through to new cultivars in bold reds with a few, rarer pale whites and greens. With a long flowering season and good winter silhouettes, they sustain interest well beyond the summer into the winter. They also offer interest for wildlife.

Also known as the coneflower, echinaceas have a strong daisy-flower form on upright stems. The large central seedhead is what attracts birds and pollinators. They don’t need staking, and they make a good low-maintenance, drought-tolerant choice.

With medicinal properties too, echinaceas have played an important part in herbal medicine, nurtured by north American indigenous peoples. Today, the immune-boosting properties of echinacea tinctures have been embraced worldwide.

Numerous variations