Sustainable Landscape Demonstration Garden

Echinacea purpurea

Echinacea purpurea ‘PowWow Wild Berry’

Latin name: Echinacea purpurea ‘PowWow Wild Berry’
Common name: Purple Coneflower
Flowers: Large, deep rose-purple flowers in a floriferous bloom from late spring to late summer12
Fruit: Inconspicuous20
Height & Width: 2-3’ x 1-1.5’12
Type: Herbaceous perennial12
Habit: Compact, upright20
Wetland indicator category: UPL17
Texture: Medium10
Growth rate: Medium12
Light: Full sun to part shade12
Moisture: Dry to medium19
Soil: Tolerates a wide variety of soil types and pH12
Zones: 3-819
Origin: Central to Eastern United States, including South Carolina16
Ecosystem benefits: Attracts butterflies and hummingbirds. Used as mild natural antibiotic thought to improve white blood cell count.10

Features: Large, showy, deep rose-purple flowers on wide, sturdy, well-branched stems12. Superior performance including a basal branching habit that results in more flowers per plant20. Attracts many hummingbirds and butterflies, and used medicinally as an extract or herbal tea.10

Siting: Echinacea purpurea ‘PowWow Wild Berry’ needs adequate room to properly branch out in well-drained, sandy or richer soils10. It will tolerate partial shade, but prefers full sun12.

Care: Plant crown at soil level18. At planting, water the roots and surrounding area slowly and deeply. Keep soil moist until plant is established, then apply enough water to thoroughly moisten the root zone when the soil is dry or during drought. Modify water recommendations to reflect site drainage and rainfall. Apply 3” of mulch over the planted area. Do not allow mulch to touch the plant stems18. Ensure soil is well drained. Divide clumps when they become overcrowded (about every 4 years). Plants rebloom well without deadheading, however prompt removal of spent flowers encourages continued bloom and improves general appearance.12

Pests: No serious insect or disease problems12. Plants are relatively pest resistant if cultural preferences are met.

This plant does not appear on the following invasive plant lists on (2/12/2016): 
X USDA SC Invasive Plant Species Web site at http://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/plants/main.shtml

X SC Exotic Plant Pest Council Web site at http://www.se-eppc.org/southcarolina/

Sources:

Sources:

  1. Armitage, A. (2001). Armitage’s manual of annuals, biennials, and half-hardy perennials. Portland, OR: Timber Press.
  2. Armitage, A. (2006). Armitage’s native plants for North American gardens. Portland, Oregon: Timber Press.
  3. Armitage, A. (2008). Herbaceous perennial plants: A treatise on their identification, culture, and garden attributes.Athens, GA: University of Georgia.
  4. Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center.(2011). Flowers fact sheets. Retrieved from https://hgic.clemson.edu/category/flowers/
  5. Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center.(2011). Groundcovers & vines fact sheets.Retrieved from https://hgic.clemson.edu/category/groundcovers/
  6. Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center.(2011). Trees. Retrieved from https://hgic.clemson.edu/category/trees/
  7. Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center.(2011). Shrubs. Retrieved from https://hgic.clemson.edu/category/shrubs/
  8. Dirr, M. A. (2009). Manual of woody landscape plants. Champaign, IL: Stipes Publishing.
  9. Gilman, E. F. (1997). Trees for urban and suburban landscapes. Albany, NY: Delmar Publishers.
  10. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center University of Texas at Austin. (2012). Native plant information network. Retrieved from http://www.wildflower.org/explore/
  11. McMillan, P., Plant taxonomist Clemson University, personal communication.
  12. Missouri Botanical Garden Kemper Center for Home Gardening. Plant finder. Retrieved from http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/Alpha.asp
  13. North Carolina State University (2005). Plant fact sheets. Retrieved from http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/factsheets/index.html
  14. Strother, E. V., Ham, D. L., Gilland, L. (2003) Urban tree species guide: Choosing the right tree for the right place.  Columbia, SC: South Carolina Forestry Commission.
  15. University of Florida, IFAS Extension. (2011). Southern trees fact sheet. Retrieved from http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/department_envhort-trees
  16. USDA . Plant profile. (n/d).Retrieved from http://plants.usda.gov/java/
  17. USDA. Plant wetland indicator status. (n/d). Retrieved from http://plants.usda.gov/wetland.html
  18. Vincent, E., Environmental horticulturist Clemson University, personal communication.

*Soil pH is determined using a professional soil test. Contact your Clemson University County Extension service for assistance www.clemson.edu/extension/. Click on “local offices”.

**2012 Plant Wetland Indicator categories (quantitative derived) http://plants.usda.gov/wetinfo.html

Indicator CodeIndicator StatusComment
OBLObligate WetlandAlmost always is a hydrophyte, rarely in uplands
FACWFacultative WetlandUsually is a hydrophyte but occasionally found in uplands
FACFacultativeCommonly occurs as either a hydrophyte or non-hydrophyte
FACUFacultative UplandOccasionally is a hydrophyte but usually occurs in uplands
UPLObligate UplandRarely is a hydrophyte, almost always in uplands

Image source: http://www.sunlightgardens.com/plants/1594.jpg

19. Perennial Resource. Echinacea purpurea ‘PowWow Wild Berry’. Retrieved from http://www.perennialresource.com/encyclopedia/view/?plant=2110 

20. All-America Selections. 2010 AAS flower award winner. Retrieved from http://all-americaselections.org/winners/details.cfm?WinID=1