{"title":"Echinacea Plants","description":"\u003cp\u003eEchinacea, or coneflower, is one of those late-summer stalwarts that turns a border from \"doing fine\" to genuinely glorious, just as everything else starts flagging. Daisy-like flowers with a raised central cone sit atop sturdy stems from June right through to September, and the bees and butterflies queue up for them like it's last orders.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe grow three quite different characters. \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.ashridgetrees.co.uk\/products\/echinacea-purpurea-alba-plants\"\u003eEchinacea Purpurea Alba\u003c\/a\u003e is the tall, dependable one: a metre of cool white rays around a green-gold cone, and because it's the straight species rather than a fancy hybrid, it's the toughest of the three in a British winter. \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.ashridgetrees.co.uk\/products\/echinacea-red-pearl-plants\"\u003eEchinacea Red Pearl\u003c\/a\u003e is the compact showstopper, saturated red daisies at knee height that need no staking and cut beautifully for a jug indoors. And \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.ashridgetrees.co.uk\/products\/echinacea-cheyenne-spirit-plants\"\u003eEchinacea Cheyenne Spirit\u003c\/a\u003e is the lucky dip: a seed-raised mix where every plant flowers a different shade of cream, yellow, orange, scarlet or purple, so a group of five looks like nobody planned it, because nobody did.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA quick word of honesty, in proper Ashridge style: the coloured hybrids (Red Pearl and Cheyenne Spirit) are genuinely short-lived in wet British gardens. It's winter wet on the crown that finishes them off, not the cold, so give them sharp drainage, full sun, and skip the November mulch, and you'll get several good years out of them. Alba, being closer to the wild species, shrugs off a soggy winter far better.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAll three arrive as 2L pot-grown plants, ready to get straight into the ground, with our usual guarantee and Which? Best Plant Supplier service behind them.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"echinacea-pow-wow-wild-berry-plants","title":"Echinacea Pow Wow Wild Berry","description":"\u003cul class=\"pdp-specs\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eVariety:\u003c\/strong\u003e Pow Wow Wild Berry\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLatin name:\u003c\/strong\u003e Echinacea purpurea 'Pow Wow Wild Berry'\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eType:\u003c\/strong\u003e Herbaceous perennial\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFlower:\u003c\/strong\u003e Deep rose-purple with orange-brown cone\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHeight:\u003c\/strong\u003e 50cm (20in)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpread:\u003c\/strong\u003e 45cm (18in)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFlowering:\u003c\/strong\u003e July–September\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHardiness:\u003c\/strong\u003e Fairly Hardy (H5)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePruning:\u003c\/strong\u003e Leave seedheads through winter for birds and structure; cut back in spring\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRHS AGM:\u003c\/strong\u003e No\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSold as:\u003c\/strong\u003e Pot-grown plants, grown on by us in Somerset from licensed young plants. Peat-free compost.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePlant outdoors:\u003c\/strong\u003e Spring, in full sun with well-drained soil\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDelivered:\u003c\/strong\u003e Spring and summer. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/collect-your-order-from-castle-cary\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eCollection from Castle Cary\u003c\/a\u003e also available.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eEchinacea purpurea 'Pow Wow Wild Berry' is a compact coneflower reaching 50cm, with deep rose-purple petals swept back from a prominent orange-brown central cone, flowering from July to September. Drought tolerant once established, outstanding for pollinators, and compact enough for pots and smaller borders.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003ePow Wow Wild Berry: Coneflowers at the Right Scale\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eEchinacea purpurea — the purple coneflower — is native to the prairies and open woodlands of North America, where it grows in full sun in well-drained, sometimes poor soil. The Pow Wow series was developed for garden use at a more compact scale than many coneflowers, and Wild Berry gives you the deep rose-purple end of the palette — not quite red, not quite pink, but a rich saturated colour that has real depth in late summer sunlight. The prominent orange-brown cone is the characteristic echinacea feature, rising in the centre of the swept-back petals and providing structure and interest long after the petals have faded. Leave the cones through winter — they are attractive under frost and finches work them for seed from November through to February.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eA note on hardiness: Echinacea purpurea is rated H5 by the RHS, which means it is reliably hardy throughout most of the UK but may struggle in the coldest, wettest winters. The roots dislike waterlogged conditions more than frost — drainage is the critical factor. Plant in free-draining soil, give it full sun, and in most UK gardens it will come back year after year without protection. Once established, it is genuinely drought-tolerant. The genus name comes from the Greek \"echinos\" — hedgehog — for the spiny appearance of the cone, which is more apt than it might seem up close.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eCompanions for Pow Wow Wild Berry\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eEchinacea belongs in the late summer border, where companions should share the season and complement its prairie character. \u003ca href=\"\/products\/echinacea-white-swan-plants\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eEchinacea White Swan\u003c\/a\u003e provides a white equivalent at slightly larger scale — the two planted together give a naturalistic pink-and-white combination through July and August. \u003ca href=\"\/products\/achillea-love-parade-plants\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eAchillea Love Parade\u003c\/a\u003e contributes flat pink heads through June and July that lead into the coneflower season. \u003ca href=\"\/products\/achillea-summer-pastels-plants\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eAchillea Summer Pastels\u003c\/a\u003e extends the naturalistic mixed palette alongside. The \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/ornamental-grass-plants\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eornamental grasses\u003c\/a\u003e are classic prairie companions — their movement and transparency against the solid coneflower heads is one of the more effective late summer combinations available.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy Ashridge?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWe use peat-free compost and biological pest controls. Echinacea is one of the most valuable late-summer perennials for pollinators and for cut flowers, and Pow Wow Wild Berry's compact height makes it accessible in gardens where larger coneflowers would be too imposing. Every plant is guaranteed. See the full \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/perennial-plants\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eperennial collection\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eIs Echinacea Pow Wow Wild Berry hardy in the UK?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes in most of the UK — it is rated H5 (hardy to around -15°C), which covers the vast majority of British gardens. In very cold exposed positions in northern Scotland or on high ground, mulch the crown in late autumn with bark or straw to provide extra insurance. The bigger risk is waterlogged soil in winter rather than cold: always plant in well-drained ground.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eIs echinacea the same as the herbal remedy?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe herbal immune-support supplement is derived from echinacea — primarily Echinacea purpurea, which is the species we sell. The medicinal properties come from extracts of the root, leaves, and flowers. Growing echinacea in the garden and processing it for medicinal use at home are two quite different things; the plants in the garden are valuable primarily as ornamentals and for pollinators.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eShould I leave echinacea seedheads over winter?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. The seedheads are ornamental in their own right — attractive under frost and valuable as a food source for finches and other seedeating birds from late autumn through winter. Cut them back in early spring before new growth appears rather than in autumn. This is one of the few perennials where \"do nothing in autumn\" is genuinely the right advice.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eCan I grow Echinacea Pow Wow Wild Berry in a pot?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes — its compact height at 50cm makes it one of the more practical coneflowers for containers. Use a pot at least 30cm in diameter with excellent drainage (add extra grit to compost), position in full sun, and water through the growing season. It may be shorter-lived in a pot than in the ground but will perform well in its first two or three years.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWhy didn't my echinacea come back after winter?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAlmost certainly waterlogging. Echinacea purpurea is reliably perennial in well-drained soil but the crown rots in wet conditions over winter. If this has happened, check the drainage before replanting. Raised beds, gravel gardens, and free-draining sandy or chalky soils are ideal; heavy clay that sits wet is the problem.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Ashridge Nurseries","offers":[{"title":"Potted \/ P9","offer_id":56371957399878,"sku":"PEREECHPURPOWOWIBE-P9","price":7.95,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0947\/0351\/8022\/files\/large-echinacea-plant-pink-flowers.webp?v=1776337526"},{"product_id":"echinacea-white-swan-plants","title":"Echinacea White Swan","description":"\u003cul class=\"pdp-specs\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eVariety:\u003c\/strong\u003e White Swan\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLatin name:\u003c\/strong\u003e Echinacea purpurea 'White Swan'\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eType:\u003c\/strong\u003e Herbaceous perennial\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFlower:\u003c\/strong\u003e White petals with orange-brown cone\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHeight:\u003c\/strong\u003e 80cm (2½ft)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpread:\u003c\/strong\u003e 45cm (18in)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFlowering:\u003c\/strong\u003e July–September\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHardiness:\u003c\/strong\u003e Fairly Hardy (H5)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePruning:\u003c\/strong\u003e Leave seedheads through winter for birds; cut back in spring\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRHS AGM:\u003c\/strong\u003e No\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSold as:\u003c\/strong\u003e Pot-grown plants\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePlant outdoors:\u003c\/strong\u003e Spring, in full sun with well-drained soil\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDelivered:\u003c\/strong\u003e Spring and summer. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/collect-your-order-from-castle-cary\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eCollection from Castle Cary\u003c\/a\u003e also available.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eEchinacea purpurea 'White Swan' is a white coneflower with drooping white petals around a prominent orange-brown cone, reaching 80cm from July to September. Larger and more upright than Pow Wow Wild Berry, it is one of the most reliable and widely grown white echinacea — easy to establish, drought tolerant, and excellent for late summer colour.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhite Swan: The White Coneflower That Actually Works\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWhite echinaceas have a patchy reputation — some of the newer white and near-white hybrids are less reliably perennial than the straight purple species, more expensive, and in some cases notably short-lived. White Swan is the exception: a straight selection of Echinacea purpurea that has been grown successfully in British gardens for decades and is as robustly perennial as the coloured forms. The white petals droop slightly from the prominent orange-brown cone — characteristic of the species — giving the flower a slightly reflexed form that is more elegant and less blunt than the flat-petalled coneflower shape. At 80cm it is taller than Pow Wow Wild Berry and has more presence in a border.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWhite Swan is one of those plants that earns more appreciation in the garden than it gets in the catalogue. A group of three in full flower in August, with the white petals catching whatever light is available, provides a brightness in the late summer border that yellow and orange cannot match. The seedheads develop the same spiny texture as all echinacea cones and are equally attractive to finches through winter. Like all Echinacea purpurea, it is H5 — hardy in most UK gardens with good drainage, but not recommended for heavy wet clay without amendment.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eCompanions for White Swan\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWhite Swan flowers in July through September — peak late summer — and its companions should acknowledge this season. \u003ca href=\"\/products\/echinacea-pow-wow-wild-berry-plants\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eEchinacea Pow Wow Wild Berry\u003c\/a\u003e at 50cm in deep rose-purple is the natural pairing — different height, complementary colour, identical season and conditions. For an earlier-starting companion at the same white tone, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/anemone-snow-angel-plants\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eAnemone Snow Angel\u003c\/a\u003e takes over in August just as echinacea reaches its peak, extending white through to October. \u003ca href=\"\/products\/achillea-summer-pastels-plants\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eAchillea Summer Pastels\u003c\/a\u003e fills the June and July gap with flat mixed-colour heads at a complementary height. The \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/ornamental-grass-plants\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eornamental grasses\u003c\/a\u003e complete the naturalistic prairie picture behind and between the coneflowers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy Ashridge?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWe use peat-free compost and biological pest controls. White Swan is the white echinacea we stock with genuine confidence — none of the reliability concerns that attach to some newer white hybrids, and an established garden track record that the more exotic selections lack. Every plant is guaranteed. See the full \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/perennial-plants\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eperennial collection\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eIs Echinacea White Swan easy to grow?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes — it is one of the more reliable white echinaceas, without the relative fragility of some newer white and cream hybrid selections. Give it full sun and well-drained soil, and it will establish reliably and return year after year. The main requirement is drainage; in wet heavy clay, amend with grit or plant on a slight mound.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat is the difference between Echinacea White Swan and Pow Wow Wild Berry?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHeight and colour. White Swan reaches 80cm with white petals; Pow Wow Wild Berry reaches 50cm with deep rose-purple petals. Both are Echinacea purpurea selections with the same orange-brown central cone, the same late summer season, and the same cultural requirements. They pair naturally together.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eDoes Echinacea White Swan attract butterflies?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes — the flat-topped, accessible flower form is attractive to a range of butterflies, including peacock, comma, small tortoiseshell, and various skipper species. The long flowering season from July to September coincides with peak butterfly activity in most UK gardens. Bumblebees work the flowers intensively, and the seedheads attract finches through winter.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eCan I cut Echinacea White Swan for vases?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes — it is a good cut flower. Cut when the petals are just beginning to open, condition in deep water overnight, and it will last ten days to two weeks in a vase. The orange-brown cone is part of the appeal in an arrangement — it adds a warm accent that complements the white petals rather than clashing with them.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eHow do I get Echinacea White Swan to spread?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDivision in spring, every three or four years, is the most reliable method. Dig up the whole clump, split into sections with a spade, and replant immediately. Echinacea can also be raised from seed, though seed-raised plants may vary in colour — White Swan seedlings are usually white or near-white but not guaranteed. Leave a few heads to set seed if you want a naturalising colony.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Ashridge Nurseries","offers":[{"title":"Potted \/ P9","offer_id":56371958645062,"sku":"PEREECHPURWHSW-P9","price":7.95,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0947\/0351\/8022\/files\/echinacea-white-swan-flowers.webp?v=1776753770"},{"product_id":"echinacea-cheyenne-spirit-plants","title":"Echinacea Cheyenne Spirit","description":"\u003cul class=\"pdp-specs\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eVariety:\u003c\/strong\u003e Cheyenne Spirit\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLatin name:\u003c\/strong\u003e Echinacea Cheyenne Spirit, a seed-raised hybrid\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eType:\u003c\/strong\u003e Herbaceous perennial, short-lived\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFlower:\u003c\/strong\u003e Single daisies in cream, yellow, orange, scarlet, rosy-red, purple and white\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHeight:\u003c\/strong\u003e 60cm (2ft)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpread:\u003c\/strong\u003e 45cm (18in)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFlowering:\u003c\/strong\u003e July to September\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePosition:\u003c\/strong\u003e Full sun, any well-drained soil\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePruning:\u003c\/strong\u003e Leave the stems standing over winter, cut back in early spring\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRHS AGM:\u003c\/strong\u003e No\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAwards:\u003c\/strong\u003e Fleuroselect Gold Medal 2012, All-America Selections 2013\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWildlife:\u003c\/strong\u003e Bees and butterflies work the flowers; finches take the winter seedheads\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSold as:\u003c\/strong\u003e 2L pot-grown plants\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePlant outdoors:\u003c\/strong\u003e Year round; spring gives the strongest start\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDelivered:\u003c\/strong\u003e Year round. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/collect-your-order-from-castle-cary\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eCollection from Castle Cary\u003c\/a\u003e also available\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eA coneflower that refuses to repeat itself: every Cheyenne Spirit plant flowers in its own colour, from one breeding line.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eEchinacea Cheyenne Spirit: A Different Colour on Every Plant\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eEchinacea Cheyenne Spirit is a seed-raised coneflower growing to about 60cm, carrying single daisies from July to September in cream, golden yellow, orange, scarlet, rosy-red, purple and white. Which colour? You won't know until it opens. Each plant settles on one shade and keeps it, so a group of five reads as a drift that nobody could have planned, because nobody did. That lucky-dip quality won it the Fleuroselect Gold Medal in 2012 and an All-America Selections award the year after.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eNow the honest part. Coloured coneflowers are short-lived perennials in Britain, and the killer isn't cold; it's winter wet sitting on the crown. Give Cheyenne Spirit full sun, sharp drainage (work grit into clay), no rich feeding, and don't mulch over the crown in winter. Plant in spring so the roots are established before their first wet December, leave the stems standing until March, and it will occassionally give you three or four good years. Treat any more as a bonus.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe flowers are single and open, which matters: single coneflowers carry more scent and far more bee traffic than the doubles, and the doubles flop in rain anyway. Leave the last flush to set seed and the goldfinches will work the cones through winter.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003ePlanting Companions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eCheyenne Spirit wants the sunny, free-draining company it grew up with. \u003ca href=\"\/products\/verbena-rigida-plants-slender-vervain\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eVerbena rigida\u003c\/a\u003e weaves vivid purple through the warm tones at the same height, and the flat heads of \u003ca href=\"\/products\/achillea-summer-pastels-plants\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eAchillea Summer Pastels\u003c\/a\u003e sit beautifully against the cones. For the front edge, something silver and scented: Hidcote or Munstead from our \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/lavender-plants\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003elavender collection\u003c\/a\u003e enjoys exactly the same drainage and pulls in the same bees.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy Ashridge?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWe sell Cheyenne Spirit as 2L pot-grown plants, big enough to flower properly in their first summer. We're also straight with you: coloured coneflowers don't last forever in a wet garden, and we'd rather say so than lose you as a customer. Every plant is guaranteed, and Which? Gardening named us Best Plant Supplier.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eDoes Echinacea Cheyenne Spirit come back every year?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTreat it as a short-lived perennial: three good years is a fair expectation in a free-draining British garden, fewer in wet clay. Spring planting, sharp drainage and leaving the stems up over winter all extend its life.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWill Cheyenne Spirit colours come true from seed?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo. Cheyenne Spirit is a segregated mix, so self-sown seedlings won't match their parents. If a particular scarlet or apricot plant delights you, enjoy it where it stands; you can't reproduce it from seed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eCan I grow Echinacea Cheyenne Spirit in a pot?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. At 60cm it's compact enough for a large pot with very free-draining compost. Stand the pot somewhere it won't sit sodden through winter; wet compost, not frost, is what kills it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eIs Echinacea good for bees?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eVery. Single, open-centred coneflowers like Cheyenne Spirit are among the best late-summer bee and butterfly plants, and the standing seedheads feed goldfinches in winter. Doubles look plush but offer pollinators far less.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat is the difference between Cheyenne Spirit and White Swan?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCheyenne Spirit is a mixed-colour lucky dip; \u003ca href=\"\/products\/echinacea-white-swan-plants\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eEchinacea White Swan\u003c\/a\u003e is a named cultivar, uniformly white and dependable. Plant Cheyenne Spirit for surprise, White Swan for a colour scheme you control.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eShould I deadhead Echinacea Cheyenne Spirit?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDeadheading isn't essential but prolongs flowering into September. Stop in early autumn and let the last heads stand: they hold structure in frost and feed the birds.\u003c\/p\u003e\n","brand":"Ashridge Nurseries","offers":[{"title":"Potted \/ 2L","offer_id":57171344064838,"sku":"PEREECHHYBCHSP-2L","price":10.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0947\/0351\/8022\/files\/cheyenne-spirit-echinacea-flower.webp?v=1787305789"},{"product_id":"echinacea-purpurea-alba-plants","title":"Echinacea Purpurea Alba","description":"\u003cul class=\"pdp-specs\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eVariety:\u003c\/strong\u003e Purpurea Alba\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLatin name:\u003c\/strong\u003e Echinacea purpurea 'Alba'\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eType:\u003c\/strong\u003e Herbaceous perennial\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFlower:\u003c\/strong\u003e White, gently drooping rays around a green-gold cone\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHeight:\u003c\/strong\u003e 1m (3ft)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpread:\u003c\/strong\u003e 45cm (18in)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFlowering:\u003c\/strong\u003e July to September\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePosition:\u003c\/strong\u003e Full sun, any soil with decent drainage, happy on chalk\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePruning:\u003c\/strong\u003e Cut the old stems down in spring, not autumn\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRHS AGM:\u003c\/strong\u003e No\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWildlife:\u003c\/strong\u003e On the same bee and butterfly beat as all single coneflowers\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSold as:\u003c\/strong\u003e 2L pot-grown plants\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePlant outdoors:\u003c\/strong\u003e Year round\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDelivered:\u003c\/strong\u003e Year round. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/collect-your-order-from-castle-cary\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eCollection from Castle Cary\u003c\/a\u003e also available\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe tall white form of the purple coneflower: a metre of cool, late-summer light for the middle of the border.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eEchinacea Purpurea Alba: The Tall White Coneflower\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eEchinacea Purpurea Alba is a white form of the purple coneflower, reaching about a metre, with softly drooping white rays around a cone that opens greenish-gold and ages to copper from July to September. Because this is straight \u003cem\u003eEchinacea purpurea\u003c\/em\u003e rather than a coloured hybrid, it's the dependable end of the genus: the species that shrugs off British winters the fancy ones sulk through, given sun and drainage.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eA word on the name, because honesty sells better than Latin. 'Alba' isn't a tightly defined cultivar; it's the gardener's name for the white purpurea type, so plants vary a little in height and poise. If you want a compact, perfectly uniform white, that's \u003ca href=\"\/products\/echinacea-white-swan-plants\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eEchinacea White Swan\u003c\/a\u003e, which stops around knee height. Alba is the taller, looser, more naturalistic sister, and in a prairie-style planting that looseness is precisely the point.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eGrow it hard. Poor-to-average soil, no feeding, and leave the stems standing through winter: the seedheads hold their shape in frost and goldfinches strip them through the cold months. In evening light the white flowers glow long after the rest of the border has gone grey.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003ePlanting Companions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWhite coneflowers earn their keep among grasses: Stipa or Panicum from our \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/ornamental-grass-plants\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eornamental grasses\u003c\/a\u003e give the classic prairie backdrop that makes the white rays float. In front, the deep violet spikes of \u003ca href=\"\/products\/caradonna-salvia-plants\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eSalvia Caradonna\u003c\/a\u003e are the sharpest contrast you can buy, and \u003ca href=\"\/products\/purpletop-vervain-plants-verbena-bonariensis\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ePurpletop Vervain\u003c\/a\u003e threads through at eye level without blocking the view.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy buy from Ashridge?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eOur 2L plants go out with roots that fill the pot, ready to establish before their first winter. We grow peat-free, we use biological pest controls rather than sprays, and our Feefo Platinum Trusted Service Award comes from customer reviews, not a judging panel.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat is the difference between Echinacea Alba and White Swan?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAlba is taller, to about 1m, and looser in habit; White Swan is compact, around 60cm, and completely uniform. Choose Alba for naturalistic drifts and the back of a white border, White Swan for pots and tidy edges.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eDoes white Echinacea come back every year?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStraight Echinacea purpurea types like Alba are the longest-lived coneflowers in British gardens, returning for years in a sunny, drained spot. It's the coloured hybrids, not the whites, that tend to be short-lived here.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWhen should I cut back Echinacea?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn spring, once new growth shows at the base. Cutting in autumn exposes the crown to winter wet, which is the one thing coneflowers genuinely hate, and you'd lose the winter seedheads too.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eDo deer or rabbits eat Echinacea?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRarely. The rough leaves and spiny cones are generally left alone, which makes coneflowers a sensible choice for rural gardens, though no plant is truly deer-proof when winters bite.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eIs this the herbal echinacea?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSame genus, same species even; the supplements are made mainly from Echinacea purpurea. Ours is an ornamental selection grown for the garden, so admire it rather than harvest it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eCan I collect my Echinacea plants from your nursery?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. Choose \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/collect-your-order-from-castle-cary\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ecollection from Castle Cary\u003c\/a\u003e at checkout and pick your plants up from us in Somerset, with no delivery charge.\u003c\/p\u003e\n","brand":"Ashridge Nurseries","offers":[{"title":"Potted \/ 2L","offer_id":57171349078342,"sku":"PEREECHPURALBA-2L","price":10.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0947\/0351\/8022\/files\/white-echinacea-flowers.webp?v=1787305947"},{"product_id":"echinacea-red-pearl-plants","title":"Echinacea Red Pearl","description":"\u003cul class=\"pdp-specs\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eVariety:\u003c\/strong\u003e Red Pearl\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLatin name:\u003c\/strong\u003e Echinacea 'Red Pearl', Pearl Series\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eType:\u003c\/strong\u003e Herbaceous perennial, short-lived\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFlower:\u003c\/strong\u003e Single, rich red daisies with a dark cone\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHeight:\u003c\/strong\u003e 45cm (18in)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpread:\u003c\/strong\u003e 35cm (14in)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFlowering:\u003c\/strong\u003e June to September\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePosition:\u003c\/strong\u003e Full sun; drainage matters more than soil type\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePruning:\u003c\/strong\u003e Stems stand over winter, then cut to the base in spring\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRHS AGM:\u003c\/strong\u003e No\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGood for:\u003c\/strong\u003e Front of border, gravel gardens, cutting, bees\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSold as:\u003c\/strong\u003e 2L pot-grown plants\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePlant outdoors:\u003c\/strong\u003e Year round; spring planting suits it best\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDelivered:\u003c\/strong\u003e Year round. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/collect-your-order-from-castle-cary\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eCollection from Castle Cary\u003c\/a\u003e also available\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eA true red coneflower at knee height: saturated colour for the front of a sunny border, from June until the asters take over.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eEchinacea Red Pearl: Real Red at the Front of the Border\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eRed Pearl is a compact coneflower from the Pearl Series, about 45cm tall, carrying single, saturated red daisies around a dark cone from June to September. Red is the colour coneflower breeders chased for decades, and most attempts age to muddy pink within a week. This one opens red and fades with dignity, towards warm tangerine tones rather than mud, on stems short enough to need no staking at all.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe Royal Horticultural Society trialled roughly 145 coneflowers at Wisley over four years and kept only eight, which tells you the genus is glamorous but choosy about British winters. Red Pearl didn't make that cut, and we won't pretend otherwise. The rule for every coloured hybrid applies: it's winter wet that kills, not cold. Plant in spring, in full sun, in soil that drains fast, and never pile mulch on the crown in November. Do that and it earns its place.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eBeing single-flowered is its quiet advantage. Singles carry more fragrance than the plush doubles, the bees actually work them, and they don't collapse face-down in an August downpour. Cut a few for the house too: the stems are just long enough for a jug.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhat to Plant with Echinacea Red Pearl\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eRun it hot. The red sits superbly in front of dark dahlias: Bishop of Llandaff or another dusky-leaved variety from our \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/dahlia-tubers\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003edahlia collection\u003c\/a\u003e keeps the temperature up from midsummer to frost. \u003ca href=\"\/products\/hot-lips-salvia-plants\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eSalvia Hot Lips\u003c\/a\u003e echoes the red-and-white theme at the same height, and the soft pastel plates of \u003ca href=\"\/products\/achillea-love-parade-plants\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eAchillea Love Parade\u003c\/a\u003e calm the whole scheme down.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy Buy Your Perennials from Us?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eEveryone at Ashridge Nurseries works in production, so the person answering your call has potted, weeded or packed plants like yours. Your Red Pearl arrives as a 2L plant with a season's growth in it, guaranteed. And when a variety needs winter care, we tell you on the page, not after it fails.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWhy did my red Echinacea die over winter?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAlmost certainly winter wet, not cold. Coloured coneflower hybrids carry dry-prairie species in their breeding and rot when water sits on the crown. Improve drainage with grit, plant in spring, and skip the winter mulch.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat is the difference between Red Pearl and Cheyenne Spirit?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRed Pearl is uniform: every plant the same rich red at 45cm. \u003ca href=\"\/products\/echinacea-cheyenne-spirit-plants\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eEchinacea Cheyenne Spirit\u003c\/a\u003e is a mixed seed strain where each plant picks its own colour. Designers choose Red Pearl; gamblers choose Cheyenne.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eIs Echinacea Red Pearl good for the front of a border?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes, it's one of the best red-flowered perennials for the job: 45cm tall, self-supporting, and in flower from June to September. Set plants about 35cm apart, five or six to the square metre.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eIs Red Pearl good for cutting?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGood, if you cut when the rays have just opened flat; the flowers last well over a week in water. The dark cones are worth keeping for dried arrangements after the petals go.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWhen is the best time to plant Echinacea Red Pearl?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSpring, ideally April or May. The plant then builds a full root system before facing its first wet winter, which is the single biggest factor in whether a coloured coneflower persists.\u003c\/p\u003e\n","brand":"Ashridge Nurseries","offers":[{"title":"Potted \/ 2L","offer_id":57171349832006,"sku":"PEREECHPURREPE-2L","price":10.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0947\/0351\/8022\/files\/close-up-of-red-pearl-coneflower.webp?v=1787306178"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0947\/0351\/8022\/collections\/close-up-of-red-pearl-coneflower.webp?v=1787308045","url":"https:\/\/www.ashridgetrees.co.uk\/collections\/echinacea-plants.oembed","provider":"Ashridge Nurseries","version":"1.0","type":"link"}