Echinacea purpurea

‘Alan’s Pride’

GREEN CONEFLOWER

Echinacea purpurea ‘Alan’s Pride’
GREEN CONEFLOWER

Echinacea purpurea ‘Alan’s Pride’ is the very latest in new breeding for the Echinacea family.
And is a “wow” amongst the florists.

Unique soft green petals 

Because the petals are a soft, glowing, creamy green colour, surrounding gold-green central cones.
“Wow” for both the garden and vase.

Great flower for both garden & vase display

Echinacea purpurea ‘Alan’s Pride’ has all the best features of the latest breeding developments in Japan.
So it displays large flowers, on erect sturdy stems, and with the petals held proudly horizontal around the cones.
Nothing droopy about ‘Alan’s Pride’.

Chic, unusual colouring

Echinacea purpurea ‘Alan’s Pride’ is therefore a lovely cut flower, in a chic and useful colouring that fits into any arrangement. Plus it is long lasting in the vase.

Sturdy and weather-proof in the garden

‘Alan’s Pride’ has also been bred for excellent garden performance. It is sturdy, with flowers atop strong, weather-proof 60cm. stems.

Easy & water-wise to grow

Echinacea purpurea ‘Alan’s Pride’ enjoys full sun and average to humus rich soil.
Once established it can tolerate periods of dry weather between drinks.

Robustly frost hardy

And it is robustly frost hardy.

Rabbit & deer resistant plant

Rabbits and deer rarely trouble mature plants of Echinacea purpurea (no-one told the beats that Echinacea is reputed to boost the immune system – Sssshhhhhh).
Though they may nibble on fresh shoots in a hungry year, Echinacea is not generally one of their favourite foods.

Pollinator favourite – top of the pops in autumn

Echinacea purpurea blooms are beloved by a wide range of our useful pollinators – from honeybees to solitary native bees; from butterflies to moths; from honey-eater native birds to autumn seed eaters.
The prominent central cones are rich in pollen and nectar, and at a useful time of year during the autumn when not so many other flowers are available.
Then if you do not cut all the blooms – the remaining decorative, long-lasting seed heads are a boon to seed eating birds in winter.

Quick from seed to flowers

Echinacea will flower in 11 to 15 weeks from seed sowing.
So blooms are possible in the first year.

Hardy perennial

Hardy, evergreen perennial 60cm. tall in flower, but remains as a low evergreen neat clump of foliage in the winter.
60cm High in unique green flower x 60cm Wide neat, low evergreen foliage.

SEED SOWING ADVICE:

Sow Echinacea purpurea ‘Alan’s Pride’ seed indoors in late winter to spring / or late summer to autumn – or whenever suitable temperatures can be given (20-24°C).
OR
Sow directly in the garden in spring or autumn.

Sow indoors for optimum germination & quick plants: First sow the seed on the surface of good quality seed raising mix.
Then pat in lightly, but do not cover the seed, as these seeds need light to germinate.
Though you may use a very light sprinkling of vermiculite or sieved mix, but very very thin so as not to exclude light or bury the seed.

Now thoroughly moisten the punnet by standing it in a shallow water-bath.
And allowing the moisture to percolate to the surface of the mix from below.

Then place the moist, sown punnet in a warm, well-lit position (but not in any direct sunlight).
Temperatures of 20-24°C are best for rapid and optimum germination.
You can use a heat mat if you have one, to maintain warmth.
Or a consistently warm window sill or corner will also do (well-lit but with no direct sunlight)..

And continue to keep the punnet consistently moist by misting it from a spray water-bottle.

Germination may start after 5 days and may take up to 20 days.

However if your seed is shy to sprout, then it needs a period of cold to break the seed’s natural dormancy.
So wrap the moist punnet in cling-wrap or a clip-lock plastic bag, and keep in the fridge (not freezer) for 2-4 weeks.
Then moisten again, and return the punnet to the warm, well-lit position at 20-24°C.

Prick out the seedlings into small pots once they are large enough to handle. To grow on before planting in the garden.
Echinacea will flower in 11 to 15 weeks from seed sowing.
So blooms are possible in the first year.

Seed Count: 5 seeds per pack (seed of this unusual variety is in limited supply).

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