Echinacea angustifolia
Echinacea angustifolia
Family: Asteraceae
Herbaceous perennial. Native to the limestone hills, plains and
mountains of the western United States, in a wide band from central Texas
through Kansas and Nebraska, as far west as Wyoming and Montana and up
into Saskatchewan. The correct identity of our E. angustifolia
has been confirmed both botanically and chemically. Wild-harvested
from pure stands, this is simply the finest E. angustifolia available.
It is best to collect wild angustifolia from the western reaches of its
range, because further east it often intergrades and hybridizes with E.
pallida. Echinacea is a non-specific enhancer of immune function.
It contains three different classes of active constituents which have been
shown to increase the activity of killer-T cells, promote phagocytosis
and increase production of interferon. The herb is used at the first
sign of infection, in order to help ward off the common cold or flu. On
a plant conservation note, E. angustifolia has been over-harvested
throughout its natural habitat. Native stands have also been eroded
by the advance of cities, farms and ranches. Sowing Echinacea
in your garden helps assure that this valuable native plant will remain
for generations to come. Cultivation: Requires cold
conditioning before it will sprout. We sowed seed in outdoor flats
on February 23rd, 1997 and it emerged virulently and completely on March
25th, a period of only 4 1/2 weeks. The most foolproof method
is to sow the seed in flats during the winter and leave them outside, with
a screen over them to prohibit pecking birds and scratching cats, allowing
snow and rain, and the oscillating temperatures of night and day, to prepare
the seed for germination. Then in the spring, the flats may be brought
into the greenhouse, after which rapid and complete germination may be
expected. The seedlings are allowed to develop their second set of
leaves before transplanting to the field. The transplant must be
done early, because if allowed to over-mature in the flats, the invasive
taproot will turn to the side, resulting in stunted growth of the plant
once it is set in the field. Also, if the transplant is made too
late in the spring, the plants may be burned by the sun. Therefore,
early transplanting of small seedlings works best. The appropriate
soil for growing E. angustifolia is regular, well-drained garden
soil, slightly alkaline in pH (6-7). The addition of ground limestone
is almost always a good idea, unless the soil is already alkaline.
E.
angustifolia is also well adapted to growing at elevation. If
you live on the coast, E. purpurea is certainly a better choice
of species to grow. Another workable method of cultivation is to
simply sow the seed directly in the field or in a weed-free garden bed
in the fall or early winter, and expect germination as the ground warms
up in the spring. Keep well weeded. Do not over-water the plants
during their growth cycle, or the crowns may rot. We have had good
results using both cultivation scenarios, and have had many positive reports
from other growers who have used these models or similar techniques with
good success. Plant 6 inches apart. Flowers to 2 feet tall.
For more information, see Richo’s publication “Echinacea: Native American
Tonic Roots.”
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