My Coneflower Garden | Grandma's Ramblings

My husband and I have always loved coneflowers. In our garden back home in Illinois we had a small area of coneflowers. Most of our garden, however, was dedicated to hostas and roses. Since moving into a condo in Michigan our space for flowers is limited. We have hostas along the side of our garage and alone the north side of the condo. Roses, however require so much care that we decided to plant coneflowers in the area just outside our living room. We have a wall of windows/patio doors, and we can sit in the comfort of our recliners and enjoy the flowers.

Coneflowers are so colorful. The one most often seen is Echinacea purpurea which has purple-pink blossoms, drooping around a large, seeded cone-like center. However, over time more colors have been developed.

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The bees love the flowers and, in the fall, when the seed pods began to dry up it attracts birds who love to devour the seeds. We usually leave the flowers through the beginning of winter so the birds can enjoy the seeds. We will also cut off a few seed pods and spread the seeds around in the bare places for more flowers the next year. However our space after three years is almost full with no room left for more flowers.

The flower is native to North America and Native Americans prized coneflowers for their medicinal uses. They used it to treat burns, wounds and insect bites. When Europeans saw the usefulness of the flowers and their beauty, they took the coneflowers back to Europe.

Today, it’s best known as an over-the-counter herbal remedy for the common cold or flu. It is also used to treat pain, inflammation, migraines, and other health issues. Claims made for Echinacea is that it can improve immunity, blood sugar, anxiety, inflammation, and skin health. It may even have anti-cancer properties. Since many of these claims have not been proven in studies made by FDA, I don’t think I will be making any medicines from the flowers. I will just sit in my recliner and enjoy their beauty and thank the Creator for His wonderful work.