Echinacea purpurea magnus

Not really sure if  Echinacea purpurea magnus goes well with the yellow Rudbeckia, at least the painted lady butterfly likes it.

Performance in our garden

I tried so very often to grow Echinacea when we lived in  Aberdeen. Never had much success, occasionally they would flower in the first season, only to fail miserably in the second.

Here in Cheshire this is the third year that Echinacea purpurea magnus has added colour to a South East facing border in the back garden.

The butterflies and bees just love this plant. It started into flower in late July, lasting into early October.

We also have an (Echinacea purpurea) in the central border of the back garden which, unlike Magnus  shown today grew to a helluva height, almost seven feet tall.

Magnus, however behaves itself reaching only one metre, which is 3ft 4inches.

I enjoy taking pictures with my compact camera, I am no expert just kind of line it up and click. Some look fine to me, others are rubbish, but hey, I am quite pleased with the first picture, having captured a painted lady butterfly enjoying the nectar.

All in all, the Echinacea purpurea magnus has performed well in our Cheshire garden. I wonder if it will grow well enough when we move to our new house which is just across the Forth estuary from Edinburgh.

Plant description

The Echinacea purpurea magnus is a must have perennial for the garden.  especially if you happen to live South of Aberdeen. actually, if you do  live in Aberdeen and have had ongoing success with echinacea I would really like to hear about it.

Flowering late Summer early October this perennial reaches a height of approximately one mtr/ a little over three ft.

The pink petals surround the central rust coloured cone, forgot to mention Echinacea is also commonly known as the (cone flower)

The oblong green leaves could hardly be described as attractive, clever planting of  companions can overcome this issue.

For the very best results grow in full sun and soil which is on the heavy side yet free draining, dont weaken the soil structure by adding too much garden compost,

Hardiness *** fully hardy in most parts of the UK except the far North

Position *** Full sun/partial shade

Height *** 1mtr/3ft 4 inches  approx

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Moving back home

When I was growing up in the 50s people moving house would say they were (flitting) I wonder if that was just an Aberdeen term.

Well anyway its now twelve weeks until we move into our new house in the Kingdom of Fife  Actually we have to move out in early December live with our daughter for four weeks after that we are renting a place in Fife for a two week period after which our new place will hopefully be in a state to move into. 

I certainly did not know how this Kingdom stuff came about,  Google can fairly make us appear smarter. 

Our place in Fife is 30 miles from Dundee and 30 miles from Edinburgh, the distance from Edinburgh would be much less if we were able to swim across The Firth of Forth.

I will make good use of my pensioners bus pass as I have finally had to give up driving due to my poor eyesight.

Finally the picture below is of myself being presented  with the trophy for having the best front garden in our Cheshire village (Holmes Chapel)