Echinacea or Purple Coneflower

Hello Bathgate ....
This is a good pic :o)

Thank you Terratoonie. I started these from seed and now they want to take over the place, LOL!

Ooo didn't know you could make tea from them!! what do you use the leaves or petals or is that a really stupid question lol, I grew some from seed called 'Magnus' really large flowers, got one plant which had really long narrow dangly petals very different from the rest.

Hi Simbad. Have you seen the one called "Tiki Torch"? I'd love to get my hands on that one.

All parts of the plant can and are used. It bolsters your immune system. That's why it works. For the best tea, select stems with the freshest flowers, use the newest leaves (top most leaves on the stem). The leaves must be dried.

Here's a basic recipe using dried plant parts:

Echinacea Tea
1 part echinacea parts, leaves, flowers, roots
1/4 part lemon grass
1/4 part spearmint leaves (or to taste)
Stevia leaves to taste

Mix and brew at the first sign of cold or flu. Based on the Traditional Medicinal recipe.

Thankyou so much for this Bathgate :-), I'm adding to favourites and I'll give it a go next year I hate taking any medication so anything using natural ingredients is much better.

The bees do love it don't they.

Of course, natural is always the better way to go. The bees figured this out long time ago. Suey187 The bees sure do love it. I'm sure it keeps them strong and healthy too.

Hi Simbad; I would love to know what you think of the tea. This is an old tried and true recipe and of course you can alter it to you liking. I like to add a little fennel.