Purple Coneflower, also known as Echinacea (Echinacea purpurea), belongs to the plant family Asteraceae. It's pretty. It's pokey. But what else is there to learn about it? Well, a lot actually.

Echinacea grows abundantly in both gardens and in the wild, though can be found in nature only in the prairies and woodlands of eastern and central North America. Echinacea purpurea is an herbaceous perennial that can grow up to 47 in (120 cm) tall by 10 in (25 cm) wide at maturity. Depending on the climate, it blooms throughout summer into autumn.

Flowers: Its cone-shaped flowering heads are usually, but not always, purple in the wild. Its individual flowers (florets) within the flower head are hermaphroditic, having both male and female organs in each flower. It is pollinated by butterflies and bees.

Leaves: The alternate leaves are oval to lanceolate, 5-30 x 5-12 cm; the margin is tightened to toothed.

Edible parts: petals, leaves and young shoots (cooked)

Medicinal properties: Echinacea's medicinal properties have been known for centuries, and you can find her in tinctures, tablets, ointments, capsules, and extracts. During flu season, look for echinacea tea - it's a powerhouse for fighting off the flu, as echinacea has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antiviral properties, and may be helpful to clear up a sore throat, headache, cold, bronchitis, and other upper respiratory infections.

Essential properties: healing, abundance, amplifications

Magical properties: Echinacea is one of several amplification plants that are believed to increase the effectiveness of spell-work in general. Including some echinacea in your magical workings, or simply treating yourself to a cup of tea, will boost your efforts, making them even more powerful. In a similar way, some say echinacea draws an increase of abundance at the same time that she protects you from poverty. This makes her a great choice for spell-work involving desire for more success and opportunities. She is cheerful but soothing and can help you with just about anything. Growing her out in your garden or simply placing a bouquet in your home, will brighten up your energy. Echinacea comes to rejuvenate, reset and clear your auric body.

How to harvest and eat: Basal leaves (leaves that are located lower on the plant) can be harvested in the spring and fall. Spring leaves are tenderer and mildly flavored than fall leaves. If you want to harvest in the fall, it is best to cut the flowering stalks in the summer, to encourage new young shoots to grow. Cooked leaves and shoots can be a savory side dish. Raw leaves and petals can be enjoyed in salads.

Sautéed Purple Coneflower Shoots

Ingredients:
one cup echinacea leaves
one cup young echinacea shoots, chopped
¼ cup chopped garlic, more or less to taste
½ cup roasted walnuts, coarsely chopped
salt & pepper
cooking oil of your choice 
 

Warm your skillet over low-medium heat with roughly two tablespoons of oil. Wash the leaves and shoots and pat them dry. Chop the shoots into bite-sized pieces and sauté over medium heat, along with the chopped garlic. Wait a few minutes before adding the leaves then sauté for 3 - 5 minutes more, until shoots are tender. Top your dish with roasted walnuts and season to taste.

And that concludes this installment of Backyard Botanist. Catch you on the next one!