Finding out to grow .Echinacea will be well worth the effort if you are a gardener who is enthusiastic about wildlife and the stewardship of creation, as these bold daisy flowers will attract plenty of bees.

Originally from the prairies of of Northern America, the Echinacea looks very at home when planted with wavy, whispering grasses and other daisies.

If you are lucky you may have been given some free seed by another gardener if not the seeds are easy to purchase through mail order. Once the seeds arrive, check the packets are not damaged, as there is a risk that damp can enter and destroy the seeds.

Next, choose a bright, cheery spot as befits these cheeky daisies who like to raise their sun-shaped faces to the sky. Suitable sites include drift planting in sunny flowerbeds in the garden, or hot patio spots where the bright colors will remind everyone it's summer during outdoor bake-outs and barbecues. Echinacae purpurea is a particularly pleasing species.

Once the growing situation is chosen, even a beginner can be confident of successful cultivation if a few simple growing tips are followed. Make sure you plant the seeds in full sun or at the very least in partial shade. These plants are hardy so there is no need to worry about the odd chilly spell as long as the main danger of frost has passed.

As soils go, the Echinacea or Coneflowers, are not too fussy and will manage with soils from free draining and light through to alkaline or sandy.

Before you plant the seeds, just check the heights of other plants that may be coming alongside later in the season. You don't want your pretty-petalled daisies to be drowned out! They will reach one hundred and fifty centimetres, so plan not to have anything taller than that grow in front of them. The daisies will spread out to about sixty centimetres.

Echinacea seeds can be planted from March through to May, and will give a long-lasting summery show right up to Fall, producing plenty of blooms which are also suitable for cutting and displaying inside. The flowers are well worth the effort of cultivation as they are long-lasting.

Once the show is over, from September onwards, it is time to start thinking about additional planting sites. These good value Coneflowers can be divided at this time, for further arranging around the garden. This task can be done up until the following spring, so an even better show is promised for next summer!

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