Echinacea - our lovely flower is now the source of a wonder drug

[ideasguy]

I scanned this article from todays Daily Express.

http://www.flowergenie.co.uk/temp/echinacea2.jpg

[Palustris]

So they tell us. Been growing them for ages 'cos I likes them, but never tried the by product. Every other study by the way has found no benefit from taking Echinacea extract. Now if I could just keep White Swan alive I would be happier.

[ideasguy]

I have my first ones growing now, from seed by our friends on the forum Andre - (Greenfinger) and Harry (noideasman)
Sowed them last year (2006), and planted them out in spring 2007.
Pink variety only (I think). I'm looking forward to seeing them in my garden. Have yours made a clump? What kind of spread can I expect?
I take it from your comments that 'White Swan' is more challenging?

[Palustris]

The ones we have (various names and shades of pink) have been in for a couple of seasons at most. They are about a foot across, clump wise. Don't know why White Swan does not survive, it looks a robust enough plant in other peeps gardens, but in ours, it jest fades away!