Buzz
Echinacea, commonly referred to as coneflower, originates from North America. Renowned for its captivating blossoms, it serves as a popular herbal remedy for combating the common cold and various minor infections. Every part of the plant holds medicinal value. You can opt to harvest echinacea flowers, stems, and leaves individually or gather the entire plant, including the roots. Subsequently, dry and store the echinacea for future use!
Procedures
Harvesting Echinacea Flowers, Leaves, and Stems
Wait for the flowers to blossom. Upon planting echinacea, it may take a couple of years for the flowers to fully bloom. It's crucial not to harvest anything from the plant until the flowers have bloomed at least once and wait for subsequent blooms to harvest. This ensures the plant's resilience to harvesting and confirms the establishment of its root system.
- Harvest the flowers while they are in full bloom, prior to their onset of wilting.
- Remember, echinacea is a valuable addition to your garden even before harvesting. It attracts butterflies, offers seeds for birds, and acts as a natural deer repellent.
Opt for precise cuts just above the nodes when harvesting small amounts of echinacea. Whether you need a single stem or a few, ensure to cut right above a node, the small projections where leaves emerge. Utilize sharp garden shears or scissors for clean cuts. Repeat this process for each stem desired.
- Apply this method to each stem you wish to harvest.
Harvest the entire echinacea plant by cutting just above the crown. Situated at the plant's base, above the roots, the crown is the target. Using sharp scissors or garden shears, trim up to one-third of the stems above the crown.
- Repeat this process for each whole plant you intend to harvest.
- Expect the plant to regrow the following year.
Practice restrained pruning to avoid disrupting the plants. Echinacea prefers minimal disturbance, so prune sparingly. Target a few stems from each cluster, focusing on older or larger ones. Allow younger stems to continue their growth undisturbed.
- Periodically inspect the plant during bloom season to identify older stems for harvesting before they fade.
Harvesting Echinacea Roots
Exercise patience and wait until the echinacea plant is at least 3 years old before harvesting its roots. While echinacea roots are valuable for tinctures and teas, uprooting the plant is required. Optimal root size is achieved in mature plants. Additionally, this timing allows for the development of new echinacea crowns.
- For optimal results, divide echinacea clumps every 3 to 4 years during root harvests in cool spring or fall weather.
- The yield may vary from a few clumps in smaller plants to several in larger ones.
Employ a garden spade to unearth the roots. Position the garden spade about 1.5 to 2 feet (0.46 to 0.61 m) away from the echinacea base. Press down on the spade with your foot to lift the plant out by its roots, ensuring minimal damage.
- Alternatively, create a trench around the plant to loosen it, being cautious not to disturb the roots.
- Keep in mind that echinacea roots are expansive and deeply embedded.
Use your fingers to separate the root clumps into individual crowns. A crown is the juncture where stems converge above a root. Avoid damaging stems or root fragments as you divide the clumps. Distinguish between larger, older clumps and smaller, younger ones, organizing them accordingly.
- If a clump proves too resistant, resort to garden shears for division.
- To enhance visibility, consider shaking off excess dirt before separating the crowns.
Replant any young crowns connected to older ones. Post division, reintroduce the young crowns into the soil. Plant each clump in a hole 12 to 15 inches (30 to 38 cm) deep and space them 1 to 3 feet (0.30 to 0.91 m) apart. These will mature within 1 to 2 years for subsequent root harvesting.
- Select well-draining soil for replanting to ensure optimal growth.
- Position the echinacea in full sunlight or in a well-lit window for potted variants.
- After replanting, water the plant thoroughly.
Drying and Storing Echinacea
Thoroughly rinse the flowers, stems, leaves, and roots. Prior to use, ensure all echinacea parts undergo a comprehensive rinse. Pay extra attention to the roots, as they accumulate soil from being in the ground. Use lukewarm or cool water for rinsing.
- If roots are heavily soiled, consider shaking off excess dirt before rinsing to prevent drain clogs.
Dry echinacea plants by hanging them upside down or laying them flat. Secure a bundle of echinacea stems with a rubber band or string, suspending them upside down from a hook on the wall or ceiling. Cover the flowers with a paper bag to collect falling petals. Drying time varies depending on plant size and environmental warmth, typically taking a few days to a week.
- Alternatively, spread flowers on a well-ventilated surface, like a window screen, outdoors on a warm, sunny day for drying in 1 to 2 days.
- Drying echinacea on a baking sheet inside a car may yield dry plants in as little as 1 day, as reported by some individuals.
Cut dried flowers into individual pieces using a knife or scissors. Separate flower buds from stems, cut stems into 0.5 in (1.3 cm) segments, and chop roots into 1⁄4 in (0.64 cm) chunks. Segregate plant parts for various applications or combine as desired.
Store dried echinacea in jars with screw tops or locking lids to preserve freshness. Combining different flower parts in a single jar is feasible since they share common applications. However, separate storage in individual jars is an option. Utilize echinacea for teas, extracts, capsules, and topicals. Store jars in a cool, dry, dark location like a kitchen cupboard or pantry.
Pro Tips
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Brew echinacea tea using dry or fresh flowers by steeping a teaspoon in 1 cup (240 mL) of boiling water for 3 to 5 minutes. Strain and enjoy once cooled!
Essential Tools
- Garden spade
- Garden shears or scissors
- Pots and potting soil (optional)
- Rubber band or mesh
- Paper bag
- Tray or mesh screen
- Glass jar
