Summer is here, defined by warm, humid days, who better to represent the summer garden than coneflower? A tough member of the aster family, the largest family of plants in the entire plant world, best recognized as daisies or rayed flowers. Cousins include fleabane, gaillardia, and sunflowers, arriving as butterflies become active, drawn to the petals that surround a prickly center, each with a generous payload of nectar and pollen. Butterflies slow down to land atop each horizontal platform; they work the ring of tiny flowers as they open in a spiral pattern to the center, sipping and moving pollen from plant to plant.

Of the nine species, Virginia is home to four. The highest concentrations occur in high magnesium soils of the Piedmont mountains. Areas with a higher pH or limestone are not as suitable which are located in the western counties or south-central regions of the state. Both Arkansas and Missouri are home to five species, (the epicenter), although not all are plentiful. The harvesting or poaching of roots, particularly with Echinacea Angustifolia for herbal use has prompted these states to enforce laws protecting them.

The word echinacea is from the Greek echinos or hedgehog, which refers to the prickly center of each coneflower. There are numerous examples of the Greek root used to classify plants, fruits, a moth, and sea urchins. In cactus, we have Echinocactus and Echnocereus as well as Echinocarpus for a prickly fruit.

A little over ten years ago, there was an explosion of hybridizing. The Chicago Botanic Garden's work with coneflower began the surge, working with Echinacea Paradoxa, the yellow flowering species and crossing it with E. purpurea, creating a rainbow of colors. Other's followed, some working only with Echinacea purpurea or E. tennesseensis. In 2003, a selection was introduced, the first double flowering form, discovered in a cut flower field in Holland. Once again, another wave of hybridization followed which hasn't slowed. Various heights, degrees of doubling, and crazy colors have been brought to market. Butterflies and various insects are still lured to the flowers, although fully double forms are mutated to the point that they don't offer nectar or pollen. As garden perennials go, they are still outstanding for long bloom, tolerance of summer drought and beauty. I recently picked up Echinacea purpurea 'Green Jewel', with green edged petals. Some new hybrids, because of their pairing with separate species, do not produce seed. If your interest is keeping a wild space or natural habitat, plant Echinacea purpurea, either from seed or young plants. Over time volunteers will sprout, and you will have a fine garden plot of food for butterflies (and honeybees), that can tolerate the vagaries of a Virginia summer.