Easy to grow

purple coneflower

Echinacea purpurea 'Little Giant'

Overview

Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea 'Little Giant') is beloved by gardeners for its ability to attract Pollinators like butterflies and bees, creating bursts of activity with its vibrant showy blooms. This reliable perennial is tough and easy to grow, tolerating most soil types and drought. The bright purple petals which encircle the dark cone-shaped centers add long-lasting color to both garden beds and containers. It also reseeds freely, and its flowers are useful in cut bouquets. With its showy blooms, hardy nature, and easy care needs, purple coneflower 'Little Giant' is an amazing garden choice.

Care Guide

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Watering

Water your purple coneflowers deeply and regularly throughout the growing season. To ensure healthy growth, they should receive 1-2 inches of water per week. Plants that are newly planted should be watered more frequently for the first few weeks, as their root systems are not yet established. During particularly hot and dry periods, add an extra inch of water to keep the soil moist and to maximize flowering. Make sure to water the soil, not the foliage, to avoid fungal diseases.

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Light

Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea 'Little Giant') does best when planted in a sunny location, needing at least 6 hours of sunlight each day. Though some light shade or filtered sun will also work, the plant will produce more robust blooms with the full sun exposure. Even with ample light, water the plant regularly with about 1 inch of water per week. This will help keep the soil evenly moist.

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Soil

Sandy Loamy Clay Rocky

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Temperature

Hardiness zone 3–8.

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Pruning

Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea 'Little Giant') should be pruned in late winter or early spring, before new growth appears. Pruning should be light, cutting back only a few of the larger, woodier stems by about a third of their length. This will help keep the plant from becoming overgrown and will also encourage new growth. Deadheading spent flowers during the season will also help maintain a neat, attractive plant.

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Propagation

Seed Propagation

Uses & Symbolism

Attracts: Birds, Butterflies.

Diseases & Pests

Common pests: Leaf miner insect, Pest resistant, Disease resistant, Drought resistant .

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