Echinacea
Seed # 5
Basic Information
- Seed Number
- 5
- Seed Name
- Echinacea
- Variety
- White
- Category
- Medicinal
- Plant Family
- Asteraceae
- Plant Type
- Coneflower
- Planting Method
- Direct Sow or Transplant
- Seed Status
- In Seed Bank
- Created
- 2026-08-14 00:50:34
- Updated
- 2026-08-19 15:35:29
Planting Information
- Start Planting Date
- Mar 1
- Last Recommended Planting Date
- Jun 15
- Plantable Months
- March, April, May, June, October, November
- Indoor Start
- Mar 1 – Mar 24
- Direct Sow
- May 15 – Jun 15
- Transplant
- May 5 – Jun 15
- Indoor Start Weeks Before Frost
- Not recorded
- Transplant Weeks After Frost
- Not recorded
- Germination Days
- 10–21 days
- Harvest/Maturity
- Not recorded
- Succession Planting
- Not recorded
Growing Conditions
- Ideal Soil Temperature
- 65°F+
- Planting Depth
- 1/8 in
- Plant Spacing
- 18-24 in
- Row Spacing
- 24-36 in
- Thin-To Spacing
- 18-24 in
- Sun Requirements
- Full sun; tolerates partial shade
- Water Needs
- Water regularly while establishing; established plants tolerate some dry periods
- Soil Preference
- Average, well-drained soil
- Minimum Container Size
- 3-5 gal
- Plant Height
- 24-48 in
- Perennial/Biennial Status
- Perennial
- Container Friendly
- Yes
- Trellis/Support Needed
- No
- Frost Tolerant
- Yes
- Heat Tolerant
- Yes
- Drought Tolerant
- Yes
- Pollinator Friendly
- Yes
- Medicinal
- Yes
Garden Uses
Container Cut Flower Medicinal Pollinator Seed Saving TeaCompanion Planting
| Plant | Relationship | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Calendula | Good Companion | Not recorded |
| Calendula | Good Companion | Not recorded |
| Echinacea | Good Companion | Not recorded |
| Echinacea | Good Companion | Not recorded |
| Echinacea | Good Companion | Not recorded |
| Echinacea | Good Companion | Not recorded |
| Lavender | Good Companion | Not recorded |
| Lavender | Good Companion | Not recorded |
| Oregano | Good Companion | Not recorded |
| Sage | Good Companion | Not recorded |
| Sage | Good Companion | Not recorded |
| Thyme | Good Companion | Not recorded |
| Yarrow | Good Companion | Not recorded |
| Yarrow | Good Companion | Not recorded |
Storage
- Seed Source/Brand
- MSU Extension; Detroit frost dates; Almanac Detroit
- Packet Year
- Not recorded
- Quantity Notes
- Not recorded
- Purchase Date
- Not recorded
- Expiration Year
- Not recorded
- Storage Box
- Not recorded
- Container
- Not recorded
- Envelope
- Not recorded
- Row
- Not recorded
- Slot
- Not recorded
- Storage Notes
- Not recorded
Notes
Original Planting Method: Start indoors or direct sow; many benefit from cold stratification
Outdoor / Direct Sow / Transplant Window: Apr 15 – Jun 15; Sep 1 – Oct 15 for fall sowing
Germination Time: 10–30+ days
Days to Harvest / Bloom: Blooms/harvest often year 2
Container Friendly: Yes for many; deep-rooted types prefer ground
Succession / Reusable Notes: Great for permanent herb/medicinal beds.
Zone 6B Notes: Many medicinal perennials need patience and may not bloom first year.
Companion Plants: Yarrow, echinacea, calendula, lavender, sage, thyme, oregano, clover, native flowers
Avoid Planting Near / Watch Outs: Crowded/overly wet beds
Sources: MSU Extension: https://www.canr.msu.edu/resources/garden_planning_calendar | Detroit frost dates: https://www.ufseeds.com/vegetable-planting-calendar-detroit-michigan.html | Almanac Detroit: https://www.almanac.com/gardening/planting-calendar/MI/Detroit
[[RESEARCH ENRICHMENT START]]
Zone 6B: Hardy in Zone 6B. Spring sow once soil warms, or fall-sow to expose seed to natural temperature fluctuations.
Germination: Some Echinacea seed benefits from cold-moist stratification; fall sowing can provide natural stratification.
Harvest: For cut flowers, harvest as blooms open. Medicinal harvest depends on species, plant part and intended preparation.
Seed Saving: Allow mature flower heads to dry before collecting seed. Open-pollinated Echinacea may cross with nearby compatible plants.
Special Care: Exact white cultivar/species was not provided, so cultivar-specific height, maturity and medicinal chemistry cannot be verified.
Research Source: Johnny's Selected Seeds — https://www.johnnyseeds.com/herbs/echinacea-coneflower/cheyenne-spirit-echinacea-seed-1759.html — Echinacea direct sowing, soil temperature, depth, spacing, soil and hardiness
Research Source: NCCIH — https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/echinacea — established herbal and medicinal use of Echinacea
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