Echinacea - flowers that have both decorative and healing properties

Echinacea - flowers that belong to the grassy perennials of the family Compositae. They combine both highly decorative and healing properties. Today, these plants are extremely popular with florists and landscapers of many countries in the world. Of particular interest to them is due to the fact that recently, dozens of new varieties have been bred by breeders. A completely new, preposterous echinacea appeared. Flowers now differ not only in the size of the inflorescence and in the height of the plants. They have different structure, color of leaves and even they smell differently.

Today, many gardeners use flower beds of elongated shape, where multi-row planting is used. In them, flowering begins from the earliest spring and does not cease until late autumn. These are the so-called "mixborders." Plants are selected and planted in height, and as a supplement can serve as individual stones or any other elements. No flower garden nowadays does not do without such a beauty with its simplicity of perennial, like Echinacea. These flowers are planted not only one species, numerous varieties of plants are used. And, in principle, from Echinacea alone, you can create a beautifully blooming mixborder.

Varietal representatives of Echinacea begin to bloom from July and continue until the very frosts. They prefer sunny places and fertile soil. With good care, they will please you with their presence for many years. The color palette is the most diverse. Here, and white, and purple, and pink, yellow, orange-salmon and even greenish-lemon shades. Particularly beautiful is the contrast between the center of the flower and the color of the petals.

In the suburban areas for decorative purposes most often used echinacea purple (photo below) and strange. The first has beautiful large flowers. Their diameter reaches 12 cm, and their core is brownish and rises above the petals, like a dome. Echinacea strange - this is the only representative of yellow color, which gives it special value.

The seeds of these plants grow long (10-40 days) and need warmth and humidity. Therefore, it is preferable to sow in a greenhouse, and planted seedlings in an open ground. The plant responds well to watering, but at the same time refers to drought-resistant species. Composting is desirable, it needs to be done every year. These flowers calmly tolerate frosts, hibernate without shelter, including echinacea purpurea. Planting and caring for these plants do not require any special knowledge. It is enough to water, feed, and from the second year of echinacea will delight you with regular and wild flowering. Propagated by seeds and by dividing bushes. The last must be done only in the spring. This is done early, until the leaves are completely unfolded.

Along with beauty and decorative, the medicinal properties of the plant are also used. And in the course goes the whole echinacea. Flowers, leaves, stems, roots - all this is used for broths and tinctures. This plant is especially valuable in that it increases the production of interferon in the body. If you take a shock dose (50 drops) of the tincture at the beginning of the disease, then the illness will end. Preparations from Echinacea have analgesic effect, and the nervous system has a stimulating effect. Decoction of it is an excellent anti-inflammatory agent and well helps with bruises and wounds. And even in cooking , Echinacea has found its application. Her young leaves are used in salads and as a seasoning.