How to Grow Echinacea in Australia
A year-round flower crop for the home garden
Growing your own Echinacea is one of the more satisfying things you can do in an Australian backyard. It is rated beginner to grow. Saves ~$5-10/week on echinacea tea and supplements. One plant produces for many years.
This guide covers when to plant Echinacea in your region, the position and soil it likes, how to sow and space it, day-to-day care, the pests and diseases to watch, and how to harvest and store your crop.
When to Plant in Your Region
Echinacea is a year-round crop, fully frost-hardy. In subtropical South-East Queensland it is sown in March, April, May, September and October. Timing shifts with your climate, so choose your region below for a local calendar.
Varieties to Try
Magnus
Large deep-pink flowers on strong stems. Holds petals horizontally, not drooping. The standard garden echinacea.
Try: Mr Fothergill's, Eden Seeds, Diggers
White Swan
Pure white flowers. Beautiful contrast with pink varieties. Same tough, drought-tolerant habit.
Try: Eden Seeds, Diggers, Mr Fothergill's
Position and Soil
Give Echinacea full sun (at least 6 hours a day). It does best in free-draining soil with a pH around 6 to 7. Dig through plenty of compost before planting, and mulch to hold moisture and keep weeds down. It grows happily in a pot of 30cm+, which makes it a fine choice for balconies and courtyards.
Sowing and Spacing
Sow seed on the surface, barely covered. Thin or space plants to about 40 cm apart. Seedlings usually appear in around 14 days, fastest when the soil is between 15 and 22 degrees.
Echinacea purpurea. Perennial medicinal flower and pollinator magnet. Large daisy-like purple-pink flowers with raised central cones. Sow in spring or autumn. Flowers in the second year from seed. Extremely drought tolerant once established. Seed heads provide winter interest and bird food. Long-lived perennial that returns bigger each year. Works in every Australian climate zone from SEQ to Tasmania.
Care
Water consistently, roughly 3 L per plant every 3 days in warm weather, less in cool or wet spells. Feed every few weeks through the growing season with a balanced organic fertiliser, and keep mulch topped up.
Pests and Diseases
Keep an eye out for Aphids and Japanese beetle. The main diseases to watch are Powdery mildew and Aster yellows. Good spacing, watering at the base rather than over the leaves, and crop rotation prevent most problems. See our Pest and Disease Guide to identify and fix any issue.
Harvesting and Storage
Echinacea is typically ready to harvest in around 120 days (about 4 months). Dry flowers and roots for tea. Dried material stores in sealed jars for 12+ months.
In the Kitchen
In the kitchen, echinacea is good dried flowers and roots brewed as echinacea tea, petals used as an edible garnish, seed heads left for birds and primarily a medicinal and ornamental plant. Nutritionally: widely used herbal immune support and contains alkamides and polysaccharides.
Companion Planting
Echinacea grows well alongside Lavender, Yarrow and Rudbeckia. Our Companion Planting Guide has the full pairings.
Track Your Echinacea Growing
Add echinacea to your garden in the Planting Season app and get reminders for planting, care and harvest, tuned to your region.
Open the App →Frequently Asked Questions
When should I plant Echinacea in Australia?
Echinacea is a year-round crop. In subtropical regions like South-East Queensland it is sown in March, April, May, September and October. Timing changes with your climate, so use the calendar above for your region.
How long does Echinacea take to grow?
Echinacea is generally ready to harvest in around 120 days (about 4 months).
Can I grow Echinacea in a pot?
Yes. Echinacea grows well in a container of 30cm+ with free-draining mix and regular watering.
How much sun does Echinacea need?
Give it full sun (at least 6 hours a day) for the healthiest growth and best harvest.
See also: Echinacea in the Plant Library
