ECHINACEA purp. Virgin

Description and Characteristics

Echinacea purpurea 'Virgin' is a refined and elegant white-flowered cultivar of the classic coneflower, known for its pure white petals, bright greenish-yellow central cone, and upright, tidy habit. It offers a cool, sophisticated colour palette, making it perfect for contemporary gardens, cottage borders, and pollinator-friendly landscapes.

This perennial forms a clump of deep green, lance-shaped foliage, from which upright stems rise to 60–75 cm, topped by large, daisy-like blooms. The petals are slightly reflexed, surrounding a prominent cone that gradually matures from green to pale gold. ‘Virgin’ blooms from mid to late summer, often continuing into early autumn.

It is an excellent cut flower, drought-tolerant once established, and valuable in mixed borders, prairie-style plantings, or as a subtle accent in pastel schemes. Like all coneflowers, it supports bees, butterflies, and later in the season, seed-eating birds.

• Elegant white-petalled flowers with yellow-green central cone

• Flowering period: July to September

• Height: 60–75 cm; Spread: 40–50 cm

• Clump-forming with upright, branching stems

• Ideal for borders, pollinator gardens, and cut flower displays

• Attracts bees, butterflies, and finches

Growing Conditions and Maintenance

Echinacea purpurea 'Virgin' is easy to grow and thrives in sunny, well-drained soil. It is tolerant of dry conditions once established, and benefits from deadheading and light feeding.

• Light Requirements:

  • Requires full sun for best flowering

  • Tolerates light partial shade, especially in hot climates

• Soil Preferences:

  • Prefers well-drained, moderately fertile soil

  • Tolerates loam, sandy, or chalky soils

  • Avoid heavy, waterlogged clay

• Watering Needs:

  • Water regularly during establishment

  • Once mature, it is drought-tolerant

  • In containers, water when top inch of compost feels dry

• Feeding:

  • Apply a balanced fertiliser in spring

  • In poor soil or containers, feed monthly during summer

• Deadheading and Pruning:

  • Deadhead faded blooms to encourage new flower production

  • Alternatively, leave seed heads in late summer for winter interest and wildlife value

  • Cut back stems in late winter or early spring as new growth appears

• Winter Care:

  • Hardy in Zones 4–9 (RHS H7) – tolerates cold to -20°C

  • No need for lifting or mulching in most climates

  • Keep soil well-drained during winter to avoid crown rot

Garden Uses, Companion Plants, and Pollinator Value

Echinacea purpurea 'Virgin' brings fresh colour and structural clarity to summer gardens, while supporting a wide range of beneficial wildlife. It blends beautifully with pastels, grasses, and silver-foliage plants.

• Design Applications:

  • Excellent in cottage borders, prairie plantings, white gardens, and cutting beds

  • Great for repetition planting, edging larger borders, or softening hardscapes

  • Works beautifully in contemporary schemes with clean lines and monochromatic palettes

• Companion Plants:

  • Pair with Salvia nemorosa, Perovskia, Nepeta, Achillea, Coreopsis, and Lavandula

  • Complements grasses like Stipa tenuissima or Panicum virgatum

  • Combine with pink, purple, or green-flowered echinacea for layered visual interest

• Pollinator Benefits:

  • Provides nectar for bees, hoverflies, and butterflies during peak summer

  • Dried seed heads attract finches and sparrows in late autumn and winter

  • Essential for pollinator corridors and biodiversity-friendly planting

• Container Use:

  • Performs well in large pots or troughs

  • Use peat-free compost with added grit for drainage

  • Ensure regular watering and deadheading for maximum flowering

• Pest and Disease Resistance:

  • Generally pest- and disease-free

  • May occasionally attract aphids or mildew—ensure good airflow

  • Avoid overwatering and overcrowding

We currently only deliver within the island of Ireland, other countries can be quoted for by contacting [email protected] or via telephone on 06964084
 

Standard Delivery is FREE on orders over €250*

All standard deliveries will be completed within 5-7 working days via Fastway Couriers, any delay to this delivery time, the customer will be notified by One of our staff.

The in-Store delivery charge will vary compared with online, in-store delivery charge is done on a case by case basis. 

* Only mainland Ireland addresses qualify for free delivery.
 

Live Plants Delivery

Our live plants are packed with care and diligence by our staff, our horticulturists review each plant before despatch to ensure quality is maintained.
Live Plant delivery charges are not calculated on weight but on the space required per package to ensure safe delivery, so delivery charges may vary as some plants require more space than others when packed.
All live plants are despatched within 3-5 working days where possible, our couriers aim to deliver within 48 hours of despatch from our Garden Centre to allow the plant to arrive in healthy condition.
 

Click & Collect

Can’t wait for delivery? Why not try our FREE Click & Collect service? Simply make your purchase online and collect it from our store located in Croagh Co. Limerick. Our staff will contact you by phone when your order is ready for collection (Please allow 24 hours minimum). When collecting your item, call the store on 069-64084. We will then load into your car as required. This service is available in-store 9am – 6pm Monday – Saturday (No collections on Sundays)

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If you have any further questions about the online order payment please contact us via ­069 640 84 or mail.