Echinacea: Varieties (Part 1)

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Contents:

Botanical details;
Pedigree;
Defile of American beauties;

In the 80s of the last century, when Echinacea, an alien from North America. I planted seeds in my garden. They germinate in the second year the plants flowered, I looked at pink, some kind of inanimate chamomile and… gave it to a neighbor. The next year I was surprised to see the newly grown Echinacea on the same place. The procedure was repeated, and another neighbor was happy. When Echinacea grew up for the third time, I said, “well, you liked it, rusty.”

And she has grown stepdaughter three or four years. And suddenly my indifference has been replaced passionate love. And it happened so.

When one or two burdock plants grow in the garden, I do not dig them out, but I cherish them and in the second half of the season I admire the prickly beauties. In 2000, when preparing plants for the club stand at the international exhibition, I decided to plant a chic burdock Bush in a container. But he looked kind of lonely. I looked around, I found him “friend” – Echinacea.

What is the song turned out! So different in texture, they were in harmony in tone. Coarse leaves and stems of Echinacea next to the thorns of the thistles seemed to be the embodiment of tenderness. My composition was given a Central place on the stand.

This case helped me to see the unusual beauty of Echinacea-ascetic, proud, intelligent. I saw it and a bunch of other advantages: not afraid neither rain nor wind nor the scorching sun for a long time
blooms, grows on all soils, almost sick.

Botanical details

Carl Linnaeus took Echinacea to the genus Rudbecia, and 40 years later identified it as a separate genus.

The plant has quite powerful black roots penetrating into the soil to a depth of 20-25 cm Leaves, unlike most types of rudbecia, whole, lanceolate, serrated along the edge. Basal leaves are large, on long stalks. They can reach a length of 20-25 cm and a width of 8-10 cm.

In June, from the center of the outlet appear straight, sometimes slightly leafy and slightly branched at the top, stems. Stem leaves are much smaller than basal, they are sessile, regular.

The height of the stems can reach 1.2-1.5 m. All green parts of the plant have a rather rough texture, they are rough, covered with short hard hairs.

The Echinacea flowers are collected in inflorescence-baskets, i.e., it is the well-known “Daisy”. From rudbecia flowers they are distinguished by the structure of the receptacle and middle flowers, the color of marginal flowers. They are large, up to 10-12 cm in diameter, proudly crowned with strong stems. The color of the marginal flowers can be pink, purple, white, yellow, gold. Long petals may hang. The center of the chamomile is always convex, hemispherical or cone-shaped, often whimsically and brightly colored in orange, yellow, red, crimson, brown tones.

The plant blooms in the second half of summer, flowering continues virtually until the end of the season. Butterflies flock to bright flowers, which enhances the attractiveness of Echinacea plantings. After flowering, the discs of the baskets fill the tetrahedral seeds with hard brown bristles, which makes them look like small hedgehogs. This explains the origin of the name of the plant (Echinus in Latin – hedgehog).

In August, at the base of the stem buds are laid. Of them often by the end of the season rosettes, from which next season will grow the flowering stems. If the winter is warm, the outlets retain leaves until spring.

Pedigree

The genus Echinacea consists of five types. Two of them: E. purpurea and E. angustifolia — introduced into the culture.

E. purpurea is originally from Virginia, Ohio and Georgia. It grows on the prairies and on the Sunny edges. This is the largest and most beautiful view, life expectancy – more than 10 years. Currently-the basis of almost all cultivated varieties.

E. angustifolia is from Minnesota and Texas. Blooms in early July. Lanceolate leaves with five veins. The height of the stems-60-70 cm, the marginal flowers of the baskets are lowered down narrow pink petals, up to 5 cm long. The plant is used mainly for mass planting. This is the most hardy and undemanding species, the lifespan is 5-6 years.

Other species – E. paradoxa, E. pallida and E. tennesensis are rarely used in horticulture.

E. paradoxa with the yellow baskets – resistant perennial. Grows in the prairies of Canada, Missouri, Texas. Stems do not branch, blooms in early July, leaves narrow lanceolate.

E. pallida comes from Oklahoma, Missouri and Kansas. Its stems, height 1.2-1.5 m, strongly branched. Baskets pink, relatively small, 5-6 cm in diameter. Americans love to plant this Echinacea in naturgarten. You can use it in regular planting, and the plant is well cut.

E. tennesensis-a low plant, the name says about the place of its growth. Similar to Echinacea purple, but smaller baskets-with petals up to 2.5 cm compact Bushes.

Currently, the gardens are decorated with a variety of Echinacea. The selection was attended by all five species. By crossing and selection were obtained varieties with a wide range of colors of flowers, with huge (including double and semi-double) baskets with a diameter of 15 cm and dwarfs with a height of stems 30-40 cm.

Defile of American beauties

Art’s Pride

Original orange Echinacea, narrow petals omitted. The center is dark brown, height 75 cm.

Vintage Wine

Flowers deep-crimson-pink short unwritten petals. Height 80 cm.

Green Wizard

Bright pink marginal petals, center Golden orange with green “eye”. The height of the stems 40-50 cm.

Green Eyes

The edge petals are intensely pink, the center is bronze-yellow with a green “eye” in the center. Height 70-80 cm.

Jade

The marginal petals are pure white, the middle is green, cone-shaped. Height 70 cm.

Indiaca syn. Doppeldecker

Variety with unique “bunk” flowers of pale pink color. This form of baskets due to the presence of flowers with petals not only on the edge but also in the center of the disc. The height of the stems to 70 cm.

Kim’s Knee High

Compact Bush height of 45 cm Flowers first light pink, then gradually become pink and crimson. The petals are slightly hanging. The middle is bright red. The height of the stems 90 cm.

Kim’s Moped

Dwarf with white petals. Center-Golden-green. The height of the stems 35-40 cm.

Liliput

Light pink slightly raised marginal petals around the orange-brown center. The Bush is compact, the height of the stems is 30-40 cm.

Little Giant

Amazingly beautiful dwarf variety with purple-purple bright flowers. Petals are firm, not saggy. Compact Bush, height 30 – 40 cm

Magnus

The petals are lilac-purple, the middle is chestnut. Height 70 – 80 cm.

Mango Meadowbright

Baskets with narrow drooping petals of mango color, brown center. The height of the stems 75 cm.

Mars

The name of the variety is given for the fiery orange center. Petals pink elastic. A compact Bush. Height 70-80 cm.

Merlot

Novelty. Baskets are very large with bright pink marginal flowers, with a strongly convex wine-red center. Purple stems, height 70 – 80 cm.

Pixie Meadowbright

Compact variety, “shaggy” flower with narrow rose-purple petals. Hardy as Echinacea angustifolia, the size of the flowers as Echinacea of the shadow, life expectancy as Echinacea purple. Height 45 cm.

Prairie Frost

Very beautiful variety with a pale pink color of the marginal flowers, petals to complete dissolution rolled into tubes. The center of Golden. Foliage variegated, green with white edging. The height of the stems 60-70 cm.

Raspberry Tart

This outstanding variety of medium-sized dense crimson flowers with a brown center. A compact Bush. The height of the stems 40-50 cm.

Razzmatazz

Flowers are initially pink, then become crimson, by the end of flowering acquire beige connotation. The flower is decorative for about two months. Height up to 80 cm.

Rocky Top

Hybrid with a predominance of Echinacea of the tenes. The flowers are small, Daisy like, pale crimson-red, the petals narrow and elevated. The leaves are lanceolate, located only in the lower part of the stem. Height 60 cm.

Ruby Giant

Daisies are large, up to 15 cm in diameter, the marginal flowers are pure pink, the center is orange. The height of the stems to 90 cm.

Ruby Star

Edge flowers intensely pink, do not droop. Very nice variety. The height of the stems to 90 cm.

Rubin’s Glow

Marginal petals pink, middle bright orange-red. Height up to 60 cm.

Sundown

Fragrant intense orange flowers. The plant is taller than “sunset”, with more smaller flowers. Height 85 cm.

Sunrise

Sunny yellow petals around the green center, which gradually turns yellow. Petals similar on might, sit densely, almost not omitted. Powerful stems up to 80 cm.

Sunset

Fragrant variety with salmon-orange petals around the copper center. Powerful stems. Height 70 cm.

Sparcler

A variegated variety. Leaves and calyx of the flowers in small white specks. The flowers are large crimson-pink petals elastic, strictly keep the horizontal plane, bright pink. Height 30-50 cm. Wonderful variety!

Twilight

Fragrant flowers with deep-pink-Magenta petals around a brown-red centre. The Bush is compact, it forms many branches, and blooms profusely. Height 60 cm.