Growing echinacea a/k/a hedgehog a/k/a coneflower to dry the leaves, flowers and roots for soothing teas and hopes to cheat ailments brought on by the approach of autumn. Early on I’d worried the discolouration of the leaves could hurt the product, but over the years I’ve found this isn’t true.
It is a pleasant thing, without the company of the common cold, to sip a cup of homegrown hedgehog tea. Even more so, when summer is but a memory, as winter birds keep me company flittering past the kitchen window.
© Zora Zebic 2016
I had no idea that coneflower and echinacea are the same. We have lots of coneflower growing in a park near us and now I might gather some seeds to grow it in our yard. Can you direct me to a place with instructions on how to dry the leaves and roots?
Happy I could share this info. My husband has taught me much about gardening, he is an avid reader of Mother Earth News!
Here are a couple links: http://www.motherearthliving.com/gardening/echinacea-varieties-19-cutting-edge-coneflowers.aspx
http://www.motherearthnews.com/natural-health/make-your-own-herbal-medicines-zmaz04jjzsel.aspx