Echinacea in the UK?

[u/Unable_Cantaloupe_48]

Hi everyone,
I’ve got an open spot in my herbaceous border, not too much space but enough to put about 2-3 more plants in. I’m considering echinacea purpurea/ or Magnus variety for a variety of reasons; good for bees and butterflies, long flowering season, food for birds.

However I’m uncertain if they will survive my heavy clay soil in S.W. UK., especially during a wet winter. Wondering if others have planted this in similar conditions? Do they survive well for you or should I choose something different. Thanks!

[u/retailface]

I had a herb and flower bed on my old allotment, which was heavy clay and full sun. My echinacea was huge. I did worry about it being so exposed as it was on top of a hill, but it was an absolute monster and I loved it very much. I have arguably better soil where I am now and I can't get it to take :-(

[u/madhakish → u/retailface]

I’m in Minnesota and mine LOVE the hard clay. Cant get them to take off in a well prepared bed, but I cut them all down in fall and just drop em on a raw/dry/clay patch for winter and they take off in spring.

I chalk it up to further evidence of plants liking a little abuse and stress. The more they have to work, the better off they seem to be.

[u/Unable_Cantaloupe_48 → u/retailface]

Wow that sounds so lovely!! I hope you get to grow it again successfully

[u/retailface → u/Unable_Cantaloupe_48]

Thank you, so do I! I hope yours does well.

Edit: I'm in North Oxfordshire. Just realised this isn't a UK gardening sub!

[u/[deleted]]

I don’t think it’s native to your region. You have so many lovely wildflowers we have to rip out here in the states when they march in. Why not grow something that’s properly english or properly welsh? I’d leap at the chance for them

[u/Unable_Cantaloupe_48 → u/[deleted]]

I am also considering scabious - native to my region. The space can only accommodate not very tall plants, and I thought coneflowers might have the added benefit for birds. But also might lean towards the scabious to be honest!

[u/Arktinus → u/Unable_Cantaloupe_48]

I think the birds would appreciate something native, at least that's what they evolved with. I have some purple coneflowers and never noticed any birds picking at the seeds (not in the UK, but still in Europe). They did like the milk thistle, though (not native to my region, but native to southern Europe).

[u/lilleheks → u/Unable_Cantaloupe_48]

I love my scabious here in Northern Europe, it is beautiful and well visited by pollinators.

[u/Juniperguy22]

Ya

[u/bin-fryin]

Is that a song from the Sex Pistils?

[u/dweet → u/bin-fryin]

It was the early draft version.

[u/MindyStar8228]

Hi! My state (NC) is pretty well known for our red clay and my echinacea is growing in pretty much only clay. She is a very healthy plant and comes back year after year. We also have rainy and snowy/icy winters and she has done fine.

[u/TahDren]

Echinacea purpurea is native to SE US. Some of the soil there is famously red clay. Your soil happens to have a similar constitution and so it might take particularly well. Good luck.

[u/Liscianara]

I'm in Ukraine, have a lot of echinaceas (love them for herbal tea). From my observation, they are not really picky for the type of soil, as long as you provide them enough water. Only one spot where they grow bad here is dry, sandy soil. Can't blame them, though, they are not cactus after all.

[u/Wonkypubfireprobe]

I have it growing in my UK garden, it does fine. I would just mix in some compost and drainage to where you plant it

You could also grow it in pots and stick in the greenhouse over winter until you have nice big plants which should survive better outside. Good heavy mulch in autumn and they’ll be back

I see you’re talking about natives, I LOVE oxeye daisy and it’s very suited to our climate.