The Blue Mountains has sort of been experiencing an Indian summer this autumn. Technically it's probably been too wet but the combination of warm weather and high rain fall has seen some extraordinary things happening in my garden.
I have a potted echinacea purpurea by the front door which had a second flush of blooms late last month. I honestly didn't think the buds would mature but I was wrong.
Echinacea is also known as the coneflower because the seed head left after the 'petals' drop looks like a cone.
The 'cone' then continues to grow taller and taller.
What an amazing example of the Fabinacci spiral!
The pink petals of this echinacea are not true petals but bracts. The many flowers grow from each of the spikes (eventually seeds) growing in the cone. Sometimes a spectacular display happens when each of the spikes flower simultaneously. This hasn't happened this year but if you look closely at the third picture from the top you will see three tiny, yellow, flowers growing to the top right of the cone.
My most favourite characteristic of this plant is the wonderful perfume produced by these tiniest of flowers. I honestly believe the perfume rivals that of a rose.
Echinacea is commonly used medicinally to treat the common cold and boost the immune system.
Even though I've had this one plant for around six years I have not used it for making a tea simply because I felt the plant was not mature enough to cope with being harvested.
Soon, it will die right back leaving only the seed head which is a favourite of florists to use in their floral displays.
Once the new shoots appear in spring I plan to split up the roots to start off some new plants.
I have under-planted the echinacea with runuculus so that over winter the pot continues to produce flowers.
Echinacea is a culinary delight to some of our wildlife and for this reason I have chosen to grow it in a large pot which I place close to the front door. The possums and wallabies dare not venture this close to our house and so the plant survives long enough to produce flowers. On a warm day, the perfume is glorious and can be appreciated every time we use the front door.
In the garden it works as a bee attractant too so if you are fortunate enough to not have to worry about what might eat this versatile plant...consider growing some in the vegetable and herb garden to help pollination.
