(AKA White Cone Flower, White Coneflower)

The Echinacea purpurea ’White Swan’ coneflower is an easy to grow perennial flower that produces striking large and bright white daisy-like flowers above neat clumps of foliage from early summer into early autumn. This cultivar of a native meadow coneflower has prominent, coppery-green, central cones that are surrounded by fragrant white radial petals (to 4 1/2 inches across).

’White Swan’ has a mature height 24-36" and a spread of 18-24", spacing 15-20".

General information about Echinacea:
Echinacea plants are long-lived perennials. They are easy to grow, a prolific bloomer, the foliage is attractive, and the form of the flowers is unique and beautiful.

Echinacea is known for its large flower heads that turn to seed in the fall. A great choice for cut flowers, dried arrangements, beds and borders, and naturalizing. They are one of the finest border plants. Coarse deep green 8" leaves are serrated and act as a pleasing foil for smaller plants. Long lasting as a cut flower, it is attractive to butterflies. Flowers abound in early summer, then continue until frost.

The flower heads have rays (petals) and greenish-changing-to-orangey-brown centers. At maturity, the rays angle downward and the center assumes a distinct cone shape. Coneflowers attract butterflies and are tolerant of poor soil, heat, humidity and drought. Deer tend to avoid.

They spread rapidly in southern zones and moderately fast in northern zones. Echinacea prefers well-drained soil in full sun. Southern heat and humidity does not bother it a bit and the blooms last a long time on the plant or in a vase.

Deadheading will prevent seeding and prolong flowering, but this is one of the plants that produce seeds that birds go crazy for and the seedheads are attractive in the winter, especially in the snow. If removing them, leave the foliage at the base of the plant to overwinter.