average, tolerates drier conditions once established
Soil & Site
average, dislikes wet winter soils
Flowers
deep pink, narrow ray flowers curve in giving a spiky appearence, orange brown center cone, can be spiky in a appearance
Fruit
achenes in the dried center disk
Leaves
green, coarse, most at base of plant, some on stem but smaller
Stems
stout stem, has coarse white hairs
Dimensions
24-36 inches tall, space 18-24 inches
Maintenance
will reseed in the garden, cut back stout stem in fall or leave for winter interest
Propagation
seeds may not come true to cultivar, division
Cultivar Origin
The RHS Horticultural Database reports that E. purpurea ‘Pica Bella’ is a seedling of E. purpurea ‘Abenstem’.
Misc Facts
Echinacea from the Greek term for hedgehog, referring to the spiky appearance of the flower head.
Author's Notes
Echinacea have beautiful flowers, now available in a wide range of colors. The foliage is on the coarse side and many times starts to fade a way or deteriorate sooner than other plants. Using in combination with other plants will help mask these problems. I like to leave the flower heads on during the winter, since birds will dine on the seeds.