Echinacea pallida commonly known as Pale purple coneflower or pale coneflower, is a coarse, hairy perennial with narrow, toothless leaves and large, daisy-like flowers with drooping, pale pinkish-purple petals and spiny, knob-like, coppery-orange center cones. Echinacea species, including Echinacea pallida, have been used medicinally by Native Americans and are known for their potential immune-boosting properties.
Echinacea pallida Medicinal Benefits
- In indigenous medicine of the native American Indians, the plant was used externally for wounds, burns, and insect bites, chewing of roots for toothache and throat infections; internal application was used for viral infections, pain, cough, stomach cramps, and snake bites.
- Nowadays the plant is important to the pharmaceutical trade, as it is purported that all parts of the purple coneflower stimulate the immune system.
- Several studies suggest that certain varieties of echinacea, including E. pallida, E. angustifolia, and E. purpurea, are particularly effective at fighting viral infections like influenza.
Growing Echinacea pallida
Indoor Sowing: Spring – Cold Stratification and then plant the seeds.
Direct Sowing: Autumn and Winter
- Echinacea Seeds need a cold period or cold stratification, for germination to take place.
- The easiest method is to sow them outdoors in autumn, either in the ground or winter sowing them in pots outdoors. The seeds will then germinate the following Spring.
- If you are going to start seed indoors in Spring, then you must first cold stratify the seeds for 8 to 10 weeks in the refrigerator.
- After the cold stratification period, plant the seeds.
- The plant is fairly drought tolerant once established, but you will need to water your plants throughout the summer if you receive less than an inch of rain each week.
- As native prairie plants, they thrive in hot, dry climates and do not do as well in very humid climates or in rainy areas where the soil stays wet.
- Flower production takes place in the second year of growth..
- Once your plant is at least three years old, you can begin harvesting some of the roots for medicinal purposes.
Disclaimer
Medicinal Information:
All medicinal information on this website is for educational and informational purposes only and may not be construed as medical advice. The information is not intended to replace medical advice or treatment offered by healthcare professionals.
Seeds, Plants, Plant Cuttings, Geophytes and Dried Herbs:
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