Echinacea WHITE MEDITATION 'Meditation White' coneflower
Symbivit Tric (arbuscular)
Symbivit (arbuscular)Echinacea
Echinacea, known by its common name coneflower, is a perennial plant of the North American prairies, where it has thrived for thousands of years. Fossil pollen from related members of the daisy family has been found in sediments millions of years old, meaning its foremothers grew on this continent long before the arrival of humans. The Indigenous peoples of America (including the Sioux, Comanche, and others) knew its medicinal properties and used it to relieve pain, treat inflammation, snakebites, and even rabies. The genus name comes from the Greek echinos – hedgehog – referring to the spiny, cone-shaped centre of the flower head. Today, about nine species are recognized, the most common in cultivation being E. purpurea, along with E. paradoxa, E. pallida, and E. angustifolia. It was botanically described by the German botanist Konrad Mönch (aka Conrad Moench, 1744–1805) based on herbarium material brought to Europe by missionaries and naturalists from American expeditions. Echinacea reached Europe at the turn of the 18th and 19th centuries, but its true explosion of colour came in 1995, when E. purpurea was crossed with E. paradoxa at the Chicago Botanic Garden. The result was the very first orange cultivar named Art’s Pride, which sparked an era of vividly coloured varieties in shades ranging from delicate pastels to rich, warm tones.
Marco van Noort is a very successful Dutch breeder of perennials who is renowned especially for breeding coneflowers and cranesbills. He created this white coneflower by crossing e. purpurea ‘Alba’ and e. ‘Meditation’ and registered it under variety name ‘Meditation White’ in 2013. However, at similar time Hilverda Kooij, another Dutch breeding company, launched their novelty called Meditation, from their Mooodz series. That could be the reason why van Noort decided to give his coneflower a new trade name WHITE MEDITATION. Never thought swapping 2 words could help not confusing two plants? Here it did!
WHITE MEDITATION is hybrid coneflower making pure white flowers with somewhat tousled layers of ray florets. They surround a large, cone-like, golden yellow to pale orange disc that provides plenty of nectar for butterflies, bumble bees as well as bees. The flowers have a strong and sweet fragrance like honey. Flowering begins early – in July and strong and reliably fed plants keep on flowering until September. Longevity of individual flowers is exceptional, too – almost 3 weeks.
Plants are compact but have exceptional vigour and dense habit. Stems are green and reach only approx. 30 cm in height. Deadhead spent flowers regularly and feed the plants every two weeks during summer. Leaves are healthy, deep green, and broadly lanceolate. Granted patens: 40957 (EU – 2015) and PP27015 (USA – 2016).
The plant is usually trouble-free and resistant, just be careful if slugs are present in your garden. Since coneflowers emerge quite late, often when slugs are already in their lethal strength, they could gobble up newly emerging foliage totally and thus destroy the plant before it even comes out.
Last update 14-06-2024
Coneflowers are beautiful, low-maintenance perennials that bloom from the first half of summer until autumn. The central discs hide nectar eagerly sought by butterflies and bumblebees. Regular deadheading, along with occasional feeding with liquid fertilizers, will extend the flowering season. Their stems are very sturdy, withstanding heavy rain and wind. They will grow in almost any well-drained, non-waterlogged soil in full sun, but dislike overly acidic conditions. Although native to the prairies, experience shows that hybrid types in particular dislike prolonged drought and appreciate extra watering during the driest parts of the year. In spring, watch out for slug invasions, which can consume much of the fresh growth – offering them beer traps is a great and effective way to lure them to a boozy demise while protecting your plants. Hardy to at least -29 °C (USDA zone 5), possibly lower, and requiring no winter protection
