The White Swan Coneflower, or Echinacea Purpurpea, is a lovely and fragrant addition to any flower bed or home garden. Its white, daisy-like flowers are about 4 - 5 inches across, with the cone at the top center of the stalk. This cone is what contains the seeds, which also attracts a variety of bees, butterflies, moths, and other pollinating insects. In the late fall and winter, it can also attract birds if the seed cones are left intact. These long-stemmed bushy flowers grow in rounded clumps, and they tend to reach heights around 24 to 36 inches tall. Their stalks are tall, vibrant green, and very sturdy. They are a perennial bloom that you can enjoy every year -- plant once and enjoy for a lifetime! With a blooming range covering from early summer to late fall, these beauties give months of enjoyment. It is recommended to plant them in deep, well-drained soil in direct sun, but these flowers are actually very hardy and quite resilient. They are very tolerant of droughts, heat, humidity, poor soils, and partial shade -- making them a very easy bloom to take care of. Careful pruning of the stems can ensure your plants flower more, and reduce the chances for excessive seeding. Deadheading can also help prolong the flowering cycle. These blooms are great to take cuttings of and place indoors, as well as drying them for preservation and decorations. Parts of the plant also are considered to have medicinal properties in homeopathic circles -- if you're going to attempt any of these methods yourself, make sure you research it well and get advice from professionals! The nature of these blooms would also make them a great candidate to grow in a meadow or a woodland like area, due to their low maintenance and high seed content. No matter where you ultimately end up placing these beautiful flowers, they will give you many seasons of enjoyment. Quick Facts Type: Flower Color: White Height: 24" - 36" Tall Width: 18" - 24" Spread Season: Perennial Zones: 3 to 9 Environment: Full sun / light shade Uses: In flower beds, or for use as a border plant along fences, walkways and driveways. Attracts beneficial insects and pollinators. Sowing The Seed White Swan Coneflowers can be established indoors, or directly outdoors as well. If sown indoors, we recommend using peat pots to prevent root shock later on. Begin by sowing the seeds at a shallow depth of 1/8" under topsoil. Transplant or direct sow outdoors when the weather is warm and all danger of frost has passed. Because the recommended sowing depth is shallow, it may be best to start outdoors on a calm day, which is free of all wind and heavy rainfall. Growing Conditions White Swan Coneflowers will enjoy an area of full sunlight to light shade & prefer a temperature of at least 70F to 75F. It's not too picky on soil and can tolerate short droughts as well. Just make sure that the soil is well drained and not too soggy. To increase drainage, we recommend adding a light compost to areas containing hard, compact soil. Water daily, with a mist setting until germination has occurred. Germination & Growth Your seeds will begin to germinate within 7 to 21 days after sowing. The plants will reach a mature height of around 24 to 36 inches tall and can spread a good 18 to 24 inches wide. The seeds can be be spaced about 12 to 18 inches apart from one another. White Swan Coneflowers produce beautiful, pure white flowers throughout the summer months, attracting an array of beneficial insects to the garden.