Use & Care NotesCompanion Plants
PowWow White Coneflower: Crisp White Daisies for a Lavender Border
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PowWow White coneflower is a short, clean white coneflower that blooms in its very first summer. Big daisy-style flowers with broad, slightly downturned white petals circle a domed golden-orange cone, and the sturdy, branching stems carry plenty of them at once from early summer into late summer.
White and gold next to blue-purple lavender is one of the freshest combinations in the garden, and the two share the same taste for sun and lean, well-drained soil.
PowWow White at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Echinacea purpurea 'PowWow White' |
| Flowers | Pure white, 3 to 4 inches across, with a golden-orange cone |
| Foliage | Medium green, lance-shaped, coarse |
| Size | 18 to 24 inches tall, 12 to 16 inches wide |
| Bloom | Starts late June, peaks mid-July, continues through summer |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 3 to 8 |
| Fragrance | Faint, lightly sweet, honey-like |
| Wildlife | Excellent for bees and butterflies; finches eat the seeds; deer resistant |
White, gold and purple
Lavender gives you fine texture and cool color. PowWow White answers with bold, round flowers and a warm gold center. The contrast in shape keeps the planting lively, and the white makes the purple look deeper. Because it stays around two feet tall, it fits right in the middle of a lavender border or just behind a row of compact English lavender.
Its long bloom season helps, too. Coneflowers peak in mid-July and keep going, so the border stays full after lavender's main flush. Arrange the groups in the Companion Plant Planner, leaving space for air around each lavender.
Planting and care
- Timing: plant by late summer at the latest. Hybrid coneflowers are most often lost to wet winter soil before their roots settle.
- Site: full sun to light part shade, average to lean soil that drains well. Crowded plants in damp shade are more prone to leaf spot and mildew.
- Water: regularly the first season, then only in long dry spells.
- Deadheading: snip faded flowers to keep it tidy and encourage more.
- Winter: leave the stems standing and keep heavy mulch off the crown.
Flower color is richest in moderate temperatures. In extreme heat, petals can fade a little faster.
For the vase and the birds
PowWow White is a long-lasting cut flower and dries well. Late in the season, let the last round of seed heads stand; finches pick at them through fall, and the dark cones look handsome in snow.
About the plug tray
It is offered as a 72-cell plug tray, ideal for a mass planting or a long pollinator border, and the compact plants also work in containers. See the product page for current availability.
Frequently asked questions
Why are some of my coneflower blooms green and twisted?
That is usually aster yellows, a disease spread by leafhoppers. Remove affected plants so it does not spread.
Will it really bloom the first year?
Yes. The PowWow series is known for flowering in its first summer.
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