Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Phillips The Public Welfare IS Requiring That We Make the Tennessee Purple Coneflower a State Flower
Posted by Betsy Phillips on Wed, Feb 22, 2012 at 7:07 AM
- The Tennessee Coneflower, which you can see, in the wild, at Couchville Cedar Glade State Natural Area
Obviously, if a flower makes its home only in our state — and the Tennessee Purple Coneflower can only be found in the wild in Tennessee — it's fitting for us to feel as fondly toward it as it feels toward us.
I know, with the mild weather that we've been having, some of you are getting itchy about getting your gardens started. May I make a case for putting e. tennesseensis in your garden? A domesticated version is available at many of our local nurseries. I've most recently bought it at Bates Nursery on Whites Creek Pike. It will thrive in any sunny spot in your garden and it doesn't need much special care. Since it's local, it's used to the amount of rain and sun we get. Sure, feel free to water it, but it'll thrive if you ignore it as well.
Unlike regular coneflowers, the Tennessee Purple Coneflowers are recognizable because the petals on the blossom radiate straight out from the central cone (the regular coneflower has petals that go down, like a shuttlecock). They're also a lighter purple than most coneflowers and have notches at the ends of the petals.
They're a delightful addition to your garden and to our list of official wildflowers.
Comments (3)
Showing 1-3 of 3
like
dislike
First the sarcastic comment: I'm so glad the TGA has focused like a laser on jobs and solved the 15-20% unemployment in our rural areas and can now focus on such inconsequential matters.
Second. I'm heading to Bates this weekend to get some Tennessee Coneflowers. Wheeeeeee
Birds love them. We grow them every year in our bird island. Butterflies are keen on 'em, too.
