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Echinacea angustifolia - DC.

Common Name Echinacea, Blacksamson echinacea, Strigose blacksamson
Family Asteraceae or Compositae
USDA hardiness 3-8
Known Hazards possible suppression of immunity with habitual use. High doses over 1000 mg may cause dizziness. Use of herb for 10-14 days recommended followed by a short break.
Habitats Gravelly, sandy, and rocky dry limestone prairies and barrens[43, 274].
Range N. America - Manitoba, Saskatchewan and North Dakota south to Texas.
Edibility Rating    (0 of 5)
Other Uses    (2 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (5 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Well drained soil Moist Soil Full sun
Echinacea angustifolia Echinacea, Blacksamson echinacea, Strigose blacksamson


Echinacea angustifolia Echinacea, Blacksamson echinacea, Strigose blacksamson

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Echinacea angustifolia is a PERENNIAL growing to 1.2 m (4ft) by 0.5 m (1ft 8in).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 3 and is not frost tender. It is in flower from July to August. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Brauneria angustifolia

Plant Habitats

 Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

None known

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Adaptogen  Alterative  Antiseptic  Depurative  Diaphoretic  Digestive  Sialagogue  Stings  
Urinary

Echinacea is one of the world's most important medicinal herbs. Research shows that it has the ability to raise the body's resistance to bacterial and viral infections by stimulating the immune system[254]. It is also antibiotic and helps to relieve allergies[254]. Plants in this genus were probably the most frequently used of all North American Indian herbal remedies. They had a very wide range of applications and many of these uses have been confirmed by modern science. The plant has a general stimulatory effect on the immune system and is widely used in modern herbal treatments[222]. There has been some doubt over the ability of the body to absorb the medicinally active ingredients orally (intravenous injections being considered the only effective way to administer the plant), but recent research has demonstrated significant absorption from orally administered applications[222]. In Germany over 200 pharmaceutical preparations are made from Echinacea[222]. The roots and the whole plant are considered particularly beneficial in the treatment of sores, wounds, burns etc, possessing cortisone-like and antibacterial activity[222]. The plant was used by North American Indians as a universal application to treat the bites and stings of all types of insects[213]. An infusion of the plant was also used to treat snakebites[213]. The root is adaptogen, alterative, antiseptic, depurative, digestive, sialagogue[4, 21, 61, 165]. It is harvested in the autumn and dried for later use[238]. The plant has been used as a diaphoretic[213]. The German Commission E Monographs, a therapeutic guide to herbal medicine, approve Echinacea for common cold, cough and bronchitis, fevers and cold, urinary tract infections, inflammation of the mouth and pharynx, increase resistance to infection, wounds and burns (see [302] for critics of commission E).

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Attracts butterflies and beneficial insects including parasitic Wasps. General insect (especially bees) nectar plant. Butterfly nectar plant. Shelter plant for beneficial insects. Wildlife Food – seed-eating birds - a favorite of the American Goldfinch). Pioneer Plant – helps reestablish overused or damaged land. Drought Plant – this species can tolerate prolonged dry conditions once established.

Special Uses

Food Forest

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Prefers a deep rich loam with plenty of leafmold[1] and a sunny position[175]. Closely related to E. pallida and included in that species by some botanists[274]. Slugs love this plant[K]. USDA Hardiness Zone: Zone 3-8. AHS Heat Zone: 9-1 In garden design, as well as the above-ground architecture of a plant, root structure considerations help in choosing plants that work together for their optimal soil requirements including nutrients and water. The root pattern is fleshy. Thick or swollen - fibrous or tap root [2-1].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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Plant Propagation

Seed - sow March/April in a greenhouse and only just cover the seed[175, K]. Diurnal temperature fluctuations aid germination[175]. The seed usually germinates in 10 - 21 days at 25°c[175]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots once they are large enough to handle and grow them on in the greenhouse for the first summer. Plant them out in the late spring or early summer of the following year and give them some protection from slugs at least until they are established[K]. Division in spring or autumn[111]. Larger clumps can be replanted direct into their permanent positions, though it is best to pot up smaller clumps and grow them on in a cold frame until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the spring. Root cuttings, October in a frame[200].

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Coneflower, Echinacea, Narrow-leaf Coneflower

Native Range

NORTHERN AMERICA: Canada (Saskatchewan (south), Manitoba (south)), United States (Iowa (northwest), Kansas, Minnesota (w. & c.), Missouri (Shelby Co.), Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Oklahoma, Colorado (east), Montana (east), Wyoming (east), New Mexico (Union Co.), Texas)

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Echinacea pallidaCone Flower, Pale purple coneflowerPerennial1.0 4-8  LMHNM05 
Echinacea purpureaEchinacea, Eastern purple coneflower, Hedge Coneflower, Black Sampson , Purple ConeflowerPerennial1.2 3-10 MLMNDM152

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Expert comment

Author

DC.

Botanical References

43200

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

Mrs G Lyon   Thu Apr 12 2007

Quite informative, however, although your page states there are no known hazards I need to know if echinacea can be taken by people with kidney problems.

Linda Savage   Sat Feb 16 2008

Why do herbalists tend to prefer angustifolia to purpurea?

Anna Poh   Mon Nov 3 2008

i need a full paper support for the following herbal plant in term of their medicinal uses for the plants stated below: Echinacea angustifolia, Cnidium monnieri, Scutellaria barbata, Paeconia lactiflora pall, phellodendron chinense schneid, Rosemary, Aloe barbadensis miller, blumea balsamifera, angelica dahuriae, blumea linearis and Leonurus japonicus houtt.

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