The most beautiful echinaceas

Echinacea purpurea 'Alba': multi-purpose

The white coneflower, or Echinacea purpurea ‘Alba’, is a classic with the appearance of a large daisy, almost perfect and timeless! It enhances white gardens, contemporary gardens, as well as large areas left natural in a grand garden. In my opinion, it is one of the most beautiful, authentic in the beauty of its cream-white ligules, and its well-rounded centre of green then orange-brown that contrasts gently. The petals will softly fall as it blooms, giving it that unique charm we appreciate in coneflowers.

Of medium height, measuring about 70 cm tall, it can be used almost anywhere. Of course, it fits well within large mixed borders alongside Melica ciliata, Catananches, a few ‘Sunrise’ coneflowers, lavender Perovskias, and bright Solidago, but also in more minimalist gardens where it adds a touch of colour and eccentricity with its bristly cone, surrounded by a few Carex, a variegated Cornus alba, and Pittosporum tenuifolium ‘Midget’, for example, or in cottage gardens where it shines divinely. The Echinacea purpurea ‘Alba’ actually finds its place in many settings, which is its great strength.

Echinacea purpurea ‘Alba’

Echinacea purpurea 'Harvest Moon': vibrant

Here is a particularly vibrant and graceful echinate. Its little extra? This absolutely magical orange-yellow colour, which instantly brightens up the borders. Indeed, everything is a harmony of yellows in this beautiful cultivar: a large, nicely rounded rust-orange centre that captivates at first glance, golden-yellow petals that will turn to a pastel orange as flowering progresses. With its prominently spiky cone, it’s easy to understand the nickname “hedgehog plant” or, in English, “coneflower” given to echinates! The petals are nicely trailing, and the flower is of a very impressive size.

Smaller in stature, with upright stems reaching 60 cm in height, ‘Harvest Moon’ fits beautifully in a meadow setting alongside some Achilleas ‘Terracotta’, Echinops ritro, Helianthus, and Miscanthus sinensis ‘Adagio’, as well as in borders dominated by white or blue. It is perfect as a cut flower for your summer bouquets.

Echinacea purpurea ‘Harvest Moon’ (© FD Richards)

Echinacea pallida: the wildest one

Here is a coneflower with a very different appearance from the hybridisations derived from the typical species, the purple coneflower. The Echinacea pallida (or pale coneflower) is easily recognised by its much finer and longer petals, which are very trailing. Its colour is a soft, washed-out pale pink, becoming whiter at the tips of the petals, with a rather dark coppery brown centre. This characteristic gives it an even wilder appearance, quite distant from some sophisticated varieties. It forms very light and bucolic clumps, gracefully accompanying summer borders.

The Echinacea pallida thrives in very sunny locations, in any well-drained, rich, stony, and even cool soil. It will bloom in your natural spaces between July and October, a little marvel for naturalistic gardens composed, for example, of Sesleria , Salvia nemorosa, white Gauras, Stokesias, Pennisetums villosum, and Pycnanthemums fluctuosums… This species of coneflower develops quite slowly.

The variety ‘Hula Dancer’ is a very beautiful cultivar in a white version, equally elegant and poetic.

Echinacea pallida

Echinacea 'Tangerine Dream': fiery

In the wide palette of colours of echinaceas, there are several varieties in orange hues, ranging from a strongly golden yellow to oranges leaning towards red. Among these, Echinacea purpurea ‘Tangerine Dream’ particularly catches the eye, its orange hue is one of the most vibrant and luminous. Its more or less rounded and spiny centre contrasts beautifully with a rich brown colour. The fairly wide petals gradually droop nonchalantly, maintaining this warm colour. This is a stunning, vigorous medium-sized echinacea (approximately 60 cm in height), which I recommend, whether your garden is small or large.

You can soften this fiery temperament by surrounding ‘Tangerine Dream’ with gentle shades and textures, such as Stipas pennata and blue fescues, or Asters sedifolius that will accompany it until the first frosts, or take the opportunity to create a vibrant bed with some Rudbeckias fulgida, Phlox paniculata ‘Orange Perfection’ or Phlox paniculata ‘Septemberglut’, Agastache ‘Kudos Mandarine’, and Monardes ‘Squaw’.

Echinacea purpurea ‘Tangerine Dream’

Echinacea purpurea 'Magnus': large!

In the series of beautiful pink coneflowers with prominent orange centres, this one is my favourite: not only does Echinacea purpurea ‘Magnus’ radiate a mass of its vibrant colours, but it also has a very interesting stature for integrating into wildflower borders. With its 1m height, it is the undisputed star for bringing verticality and a profusion of bright flowers to a country scene or summer border. Additionally, it particularly attracts butterflies, making it a true gem! This coneflower, like its relatives, requires well-drained, loose soil and thrives in a sunny position.

You will appreciate it alongside robust, large perennials like itself for a worry-free border: graceful and light Buenos Aires verbena, flexible grasses to add movement such as Deschampsia cespitosa or Pennisetum incomptum, a few Eremurus to accompany the start of flowering, a microphylla sage ‘Ribambelle’ until the frosts, and some Euphorbias for year-round structure. It also perfectly complements borders with more orange tones, paired with Leonotis in mild climates, for example, as well as with other coneflowers like ‘Tangerine Dream’, ‘Pacific Summer’, or ‘Hot Lava’, and some Coreopsis.

Echinacea purpurea ‘Magnus’ ( © Peter Rosbjerg)

Echinacea 'Green Jewel': surprising

In the original genus, the Echinacea ‘Green Jewel’ is a little green gem, as its name suggests, that certainly stands out. While it has a slightly more horticultural look than other varieties in this selection, it is nonetheless intriguing due to its completely unique colour, which is rare among echinaceas. The entire capitulum showcases a delightfully apple-green tone, with both the more pronounced centre and the short petals wavering between cream and pale green.  Proudly standing at 60 cm tall, ‘Green Jewel’ maintains its small, well-filled petals arranged in two ranks, held upright, in a well-opened form, unlike the varieties with trailing ligules. This variety can be more easily used in borders and within more contemporary gardens, always well-exposed to the sun.

Mix ‘Green Jewel’ with another stunning cream cultivar, ‘Ferris Wheels’, featuring a large orange centre, and with purplish and bluish tones that particularly highlight it, such as Agastache ‘Blue Boa’, Dahlias ‘Happy Single Date’, Astelias ‘Red Devil’, and a few Stipa tenuissima for movement. A Alchemilla mollis can also delicately complement this acid green and will bring even more lightness.

Echinacea purpurea ‘Green Jewel’