Echinacea, or purple coneflower, is a beautiful flowering perennial with strong medicinal properties and numerous benefits. Used for centuries in traditional medicine, it has recently gained popularity as an herbal remedy for colds, flu, and other ailments. While many people are familiar with the plant’s beauty and medicinal properties, few are aware of the positive benefits of growing echinacea in the garden.

Starting a garden with echinacea is easy. The plant grows well in poor, dry soils, and can tolerate drought conditions better than most flowers. In addition, the root system is tolerant to most weeds, so keeping the garden clean is relatively easy. When purchasing plants, look for the purple coneflowers with well-developed flower heads and sturdy stems. Once planted, the echinacea plant is low maintenance. It requires only a moderate amount of water and does not require fertilization, mulching, or staking.

Not only is echinacea a low-maintenance plant, but it also provides many benefits to the garden. The flowers attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators into the garden, helping to increase the garden’s biodiversity. Furthermore, the large flowers and seedheads make excellent dried flowers, providing natural color to the garden’s autumn landscape.

In addition, echinacea root can be harvested and used dried or fresh for medicinal purposes. The root has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiviral, and antimicrobial effects, which can help boost the immune system and reduce the severity of colds and other illnesses. As an herbal remedy, the root can be made into an infusion, decoction, tincture, oil, or salve.

Echinacea is an easy-to-care-for addition to any garden, providing a colorful landscape and numerous positive benefits. Plus, harvesting the root for medicinal purposes can make it even more beneficial. So if you’re in the market for a low-maintenance plant with many advantages, turn to echinacea—the purple coneflower—for a beautiful solution.