Echinacea is like having an herbal medicine cabinet in your herb garden

Spring is Approaching fast!

 Things to Consider for Spring

• Germinating Your Own Herb Seeds

• Ordering Potted Herb Plants

• Controlling Garden Pests

• Composting - Using Compost

• Drying and Storing Your Herbs

• Soil Fertility - Soil Testing Your Herb Garden Soil

• How the Changing Weather Will Affect Your Herb Garden

Echinacea, aka purple coneflower, is a great, easy growing herb to add to your herb garden

                                     Echinacea angustifolia

Plant Type: Hardy Perennial                  Growing Zone: Zones 3-9

Echinacea Purpurea, or purple coneflower, is a rugged perennial that in native to the American prairie, that grows up to two to four feet tall. The Echinacea flower can be a variety of colors, resembling a daisy, with large, dark centers, blooming throughout the summer and into early autumn.

Echinacea: General planting instructions

Echinacea seeds should be planted indoors 8-10 weeks before planting outside. Outdoors, plant in early spring or early autumn at a depth of 1/8-inch. Seed germination takes 10-21 days, requiring darkness and a temperature of 70 to 75 degrees. Echinacea plants like full sun or very light shade, preferring average, well-drained soil with a pH level of 5.5 to 7.0.

Echinacea is easy to care for; just water regularly and do not disturb the plant once established. It is susceptible to powdery mildew, but you can avoid this by regular watering during dry spells. In late autumn, cut the flowering stems to the ground.

The benefits of Echinacea, or Echinacea Purpurea, are multiple in herbal medicine

Echinacea or purple coneflower, was used as a medicinal remedy by American Indians more than almost any other plant in the plains states for a variety of ailments. And this powerful herb can be easily grown by you in your own herb garden!

The uses of Echinacea have included treatment for bites of snakes and poisonous insects; applying its juice to bathe burns and mix with water to sprinkle on coals during traditional, purification “sweats;” and it is effective in facilitating the wound-healing process. Today, Echinacea is still considered a good antibiotic. It has been found effective in treating tonsillitis, and can ease pain when used externally to treat wounds or ulcers.

Research into Echinacea and purple coneflower shows that the reputation for enhancing the immune system is well deserved. Echinacea stimulates the production of white blood cells to fight infection. It can also be helpful in treating allergies.

However, Echinacea has a downside for those who have an autoimmune disease such as multiple sclerosis. The property which stimulates white bloods cell production also sends the immune system into high gear, something those with similar diseases do not want. Check with your health care professional before using Echinacea.

Thomas Kueny – Publisher     http://www.growing-herbs.com