RHS Tatton Flower Show {Part Two} – Echinacea Envy

Gorgeous jewelled colours of Echinacea’s…..

Echinacea are one of my favourite perennials for late summer colour. These are some beautiful examples of new varieties that were for sale at the RHS Tatton Flower show. They are great as a cut flower with a vase life of 10-14 days. Even after the petals have faded from the cut flower, you can remove them and enjoy the central button head for days after. As an addition to your garden border they add height and colour from July to late September. Also the bees and butterflies love them.

In addition they add structure and form to a winter bed. Do not cut back in Autumn but leave the skeleton plant to add shape to what would be an otherwise empty space. This idea of leaving the winter structure was pioneered by Piet Ouldolf and the New Perennial Planting Movement. They also make ideal home for hibernating insects. So all in all you are getting a lot of plant for your money!

Echinacea ‘Summer Sky’

Echinacea ‘Cotton Candy’

Echinacea ‘Hot Papaya’

Echinacea ‘Sunrise’

Echinacea ‘Milk Shake’

Echinacea ‘Green Jewel

Genus:	Echinacea
Type:	Perennial
Soil Type:	Fertile, well-drained soil.
Site:	Full sun to partial shade.
Height & Spread	60-90cm x 40cm
Hardiness:	Fully Hardy
Care tips:	Add a good mulch each year at the start of the growing season.
Flowers:	July to September
Cut flowers	Yes, will last in a vase for 10-14 days. You can remove faded petals to leave the central button head for longer use.

So if you have a little room in your garden it may be worth a trip to your local plant nursery to purchase one of these perfect pollinators and giving it a good home…..

kind regards

kat x

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Image credits: all images by Kat Weatherill for Tea On The Terrace. If you reuse any of these images please add a link back to this site – thank you