Pow Wow Wild Berry Coneflower

Pow Wow Wild Berry Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea 'Pow Wow Wild Berry') is a perennial with big pink-purple daisies, each with a raised orange-tan cone, held on long stems about 60cm tall and 60cm wide. The pink is much stronger than on the natural species, and the flowers are larger. Honeybees and butterflies love it, and it suits the modern habit of mixing perennials with grasses.

Why you'll love it

• Colour with real depth. A far stronger pink than the naturally occurring species, on bigger flowers that show up well from a distance.
• A proven performer. This variety is an All-America Selections winner, a mark of garden performance as well as looks.
• Echidna-like seedheads. After the petals drop, the cones become spiky seedheads that hold their shape and add texture to the border.
• Pollinator friendly. Honeybees and butterflies visit the flowers, so it belongs in kitchen gardens as much as ornamental beds.
• Cold hardy and drought tolerant. Extremely cold hardy once established, and drought tolerant when mature.

Where it works best

Modern mixed plantings. Plant 50cm apart among ornamental grasses and perennials such as catmint and sage. The pink-purple daisies rise through the softer foliage and stay the focus.

Beds and borders. At 60cm tall it suits the middle of a bed. Plant in groups of three or five so the colour reads as a block rather than scattered dots.

Cottage and kitchen gardens. It fits a cottage style planting well, and a few plants near the vegetables draw pollinators to the patch. It is not considered toxic to cats or dogs, so it suits a family garden.

Growing Pow Wow Wild Berry Coneflower in Australia

Position and climate. Plant in full sun with well-draining soil. It is very cold hardy, and in frosty gardens it dies back over winter and returns in spring. In humid subtropical regions, pick an open, airy spot so the foliage dries quickly after rain.

Soil. Well-draining soil is the main requirement. Mulch after planting to hold moisture. On heavy clay, raise the bed a little so winter water does not sit around the crown.

Water and feed. Keep the plant mulched and watered regularly through its first 12 weeks or so. After that it is drought tolerant. Snip off spent blooms and give it a liquid feed to stretch out the flowering.

Pruning. Cut off spent flowers to keep the display going. Plants flower better when they have been in place for a year or two, so resist digging them up in the first seasons.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Pow Wow Wild Berry Coneflower as tube stock, a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly. It arrives as a small, leafy plant that needs a season to build its crown, with flowering improving each year after that.

Tube stock comes from our grower and is not always available. When the grower has none, the tube shows as sold out on this page, and the notify button emails you the day it is back.

Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Salvias to plant alongside
• Grasses and strappy plants for contrast
• Creating a cottage garden in Australia
• Plants for bees and butterflies

Common questions

What should I plant it with?

Ornamental grasses and other herbaceous perennials such as catmint and sage. That loose, modern mix lets the pink-purple daisies stand out.

How far apart should I plant it?

About 50cm apart. Each plant reaches roughly 60cm wide, so the clumps meet within a season and make a continuous drift.

Does it need much water?

Regular watering and mulch until it is established, usually around 12 weeks. After that it is drought tolerant once mature.