These striking plants are one of the best for attracting butterflies, bees and other beneficial insets to the garden. Home to America’s grassland, Echinaceas have large daisy-like blooms, making a lovely choice for beds, borders and containers. A cottage garden favourite, these hardy-perennials bloom heavily from June to September.

How to Sow and Grow Echinaceas
Echinaceas can tolerate dry soils and withstand heat and humidity well. However give them rich, well-drained soil and plants will thrive.

Sow indoors for surest result, 1.5cm(1/2in) deep, in a tray of compost. Water well and place in a cold frame, unheated greenhouse or on a warm kitchen windowsill. Keep moist. Seedlings usually appear in 14-28 days. Transplant individually when large enough to handle to 8cm(3in) Gradually accustom young plants to outside conditions, avoiding frosts, before planting out 40cm(16in) apart.

Sow outdoors in a seed bed, into finely prepared soil which has already been watered. Keep moist and weed free. Thin seedlings to 5cm(2in) apart before planting out in their flowering positions.