Echinacea 'White Swan'

White Swan Echinacea (Echinacea purpurea 'White Swan')

White Swan is a graceful and striking white-flowered form of the beloved Purple Coneflower, featuring elegant, daisy-like blooms with pure white petals surrounding a soft yellow-grey, cone-shaped centre. Rising above lush, upright foliage, these long-blooming perennials bring a fresh, luminous quality to borders, wildflower gardens, and cutting beds, especially in late summer when many other perennials begin to fade. Its serene colour palette pairs beautifully with soft pinks, lavenders, and purples for a classic cottage-garden effect.

Hardy and dependable, White Swan prefers well-drained soils in full sun and is slightly less tolerant of persistently wet conditions than its purple relative. Fibrous-rooted and resilient, it attracts bees, butterflies, and other pollinators, while its seed heads provide winter interest and nourishment for birds. Often grown for its ornamental beauty, the roots can also be harvested for traditional herbal uses after several years. Also known as White Coneflower or White-Flowered Eastern Coneflower, White Swan is a perennial in Zones 3–10, adding elegance, structure, and ecological value to any garden.

DETAILS:

QTY: 30

SITE: Full Sun

TYPE: Perennial

DEPTH: 1/8"

GERMINATION: 10-15 days at 18-21°C

MATURITY: 300 - 365 Days

HEIGHT: 24 - 36"

SPACING: 18 - 24"

PINCH: No


HOW TO GROW:
Transplant (recommended): Sow seeds indoors 8–10 weeks before you plan to move them outdoors. Germination can be slow, typically taking 30–40 days after sowing. Once the first true leaves appear, transplant into cell packs or larger containers. Harden off seedlings by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions for 7–10 days before transplanting them outside in late spring or early summer.

Direct Seed (alternative): Sow seeds directly outdoors in spring when the soil has warmed to at least 18°C. Sow in groups of 3–4 seeds, ⅛" deep, then thin to the strongest seedling. Alternatively, sow in the fall—natural rainfall and fluctuating temperatures help break dormancy and encourage strong germination the following spring.

Pinching: Pinching is not necessary for Echinacea. However, deadheading spent flowers throughout the season will encourage more blooms.

Soil Preference and Watering: Echinacea thrives in full sun and requires well-drained soil. It is a very drought-tolerant plant once established and will not tolerate soggy roots.

Fertilizing: Echinacea is not a heavy feeder. Fertilizing is generally not required. Amending the soil with compost at the time of planting is usually sufficient.

Harvesting: For bouquets, harvest stems when the flowers are fully open and the petals are firm. For seed harvest, wait until the cone is mature and has turned a darker color, and the seeds are firm.