Echinacea RH Uncovered

Bold, resilient and buzzing with life, Echinacea earns its place as the star of the September border.

As late summer settles into its warm, confident rhythm, Echinacea purpurea steps forward with a grounded elegance. Its sturdy stems, broad sweeps of colour and distinctive coppery cones make it a dependable anchor for the garden through the warmer months. 

The flowers range from soft rose-pink and raspberry to clear purple, depending on the cultivar, with petals forming a halo around their textured centres. Beyond their beauty, Echinacea is wonderfully resilient, thriving in full sun and well-drained soil and coping with heat, humidity and dry spells. 

Planting Companions

Echinacea works beautifully in mixed planting. Pair it with the airy silver of Russian sage, the fine movement of Mexican feather grass or the soft, arching form of African love grass to create a naturalistic border full of movement and texture. 

Steady, sun-loving and pollinator-friendly, Echinacea purpurea is a wonderful choice for herbaceous borders, gravel gardens and cottage gardens, bringing colour and character while remaining one of the easiest perennials to grow well. 

Stephen Peters, Assistant Head Gardener, shares more of his gardening expertise in the September 2026 edition of RH Uncovered, where he explores how to create a stunning late-summer garden with Echinacea. Read the full feature on page 30.