Echinacea

Name:
*Echinacea (Echinacea angustifolia)
(This is the best plant medicinally, but there are many other forms of this plant available as well)

Description:
*Perennial
*Beautiful, butterfly-attracting plant
*Can be grown in containers if you use a loam based potting compost and divide in the fall

Parts Used:
*Roots, Leaves, Flowers, Seeds

Position:
*well-drained, fertile loam soil is best
*sunny position
*they need enough room for their deep-rooted system, once they are established, they are very drought resistant

Propagation:
*can be divided in fall or spring
*can be propagated by root cuttings
*can be propagated by seed, but it only germinates if stratifying occurs (mix seed with moist, sterile sand or vermiculite and place in a sealed plastic bag in a vegetable drawer of refrigerator for at least 4 weeks. Plant this seed in pots, then transplant into ground once roots have filled the pots)

Maintenance:
*water regularly and weed regularly
*no serious problems with pests/diseases
*After flowering, cut back the plants, leaving 3 inches of growth above ground
*Collect seeds and keep flowers for drying

Harvesting:
*Dig up roots of mature plants in the fall (at least 4 years old), then clean and dry them.
*Gather flowers and leaves from mature plants as desired/required

Medicinally:
*The whole plant is good for the body
*effective treatment for colds/flus, upper respiratory infections, contagious illnesses, and skin infections
*immune stimulation: use of this plant will help you stay healthy all year round

For additional information, see: references and warnings