Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea 'Finale White')
Echinacea purpurea 'Finale White' offers compact, white coneflowers blooming June-August. This low-maintenance Purple coneflower thrives in sun and dry soil.
Complete Plant Information
Overview
Echinacea purpurea ‘Finale White’ provides gardeners with a compact, reliable source of late-summer color. This cultivar of the beloved Purple coneflower features striking daisy-like flowers with pure white ray petals radiating from prominent, coppery-orange central cones. It maintains the tough, adaptable nature that makes Echinacea purpurea a staple in perennial borders.
As an herbaceous perennial, this variety offers fantastic long-term value, returning reliably to provide structure and attract pollinators throughout the season. Unlike some taller types, Echinacea purpurea ‘Finale White’ stays relatively compact, integrating beautifully into mixed borders or native plant groupings.
The persistence of the spent seed heads offers significant late-season interest, often attracting goldfinches seeking winter sustenance. This white-flowered form brings a brighter, slightly cooler contrast to the traditional purple blooms while demanding very little care once established.
Fast Facts
- Plant Family: Asteraceae
- Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
- Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 3-8
- Size at Maturity:
- Height: 1.5-2 ft
- Spread: 1-1.5 ft
- Bloom Time: June to August
- Bloom Description: White rays with copper-orange cone
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
- Water Needs: Dry to medium
- Maintenance Level: Low
How to Grow
The best time to establish Echinacea purpurea ‘Finale White’ is typically in the spring or fall. Ensure the planting site receives full sun, though it will tolerate part shade, especially in very hot climates. These plants prefer average, dry to medium soil that is well-drained; avoid overly rich, perpetually moist conditions.
Once established, the Purple coneflower is remarkably low maintenance. Watering should be infrequent, allowing the soil to dry out between soakings, as this variety is highly drought-tolerant. Fertilization is rarely necessary; too much richness encourages weak, floppy stems rather than robust blooms.
Plants usually rebloom readily without deadheading, though prompt removal of spent flowers improves the overall aesthetic appeal of your border throughout the summer. If you allow some seed heads to remain standing into winter, you will enjoy architectural interest and feed visiting birds. Clumps should be divided every four years if they become significantly overcrowded.
A special note for those propagating: the desirable white coloration of Echinacea purpurea ‘Finale White’ may not come true from seed, meaning resulting seedlings might revert or display variations in petal color. For guaranteed results, rely on purchasing nursery stock or carefully dividing established clumps.
Landscape Uses
Echinacea purpurea ‘Finale White’ excels due to its long-blooming nature and versatile stature. It is perfect for massing throughout traditional herbaceous borders, creating drifts of long-lasting white flowers that light up the summer landscape. Its drought tolerance makes it an ideal candidate for naturalized areas and wildflower gardens where constant watering is impractical.
Consider pairing this variety with plants that contrast nicely in both color and form. Black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia) are a classic companion, providing a vibrant yellow counterpoint to the white coneflowers. Groupings in a native plant garden or meadow setting are highly effective, showcasing the adaptability of the Purple coneflower.
This plant also performs well in drier sections of a woodland garden where dappled sunlight penetrates, or in the front to middle layers of a mixed border where its shorter stature (compared to taller Echinacea species) won’t obscure smaller companion plants.
Standout Features
Flower Qualities
- Showy
Noteworthy Characteristics
Echinacea purpurea, commonly called purple coneflower, is a coarse, rough-hairy, herbaceous perennial that is native to moist prairies, meadows and open woods of the central to southeastern United States. ‘Finale White’ is a compact, white-flowered version of the familiar purple-flowered native Echinacea purpurea, typically growing to about 24” tall on rigid stems. It features daisy-like coneflowers with horizontal-to-slightly-drooping white rays and large, pin cushion-like, coppery-orange central cones. Genus name Echinacea comes from the Greek word echinos meaning hedgehog in reference to the spiny center cone common to most flowers in this genus.
Tolerances
- Deer
- Drought
- Clay Soil
- Dry Soil
- Shallow-Rocky Soil
Potential Problems
Japanese beetle feeding and leaf spot are occasional issues encountered when growing Echinacea purpurea ‘Finale White’. The primary concern gardeners face is susceptibility to aster yellows disease, which dramatically distorts new growth and flower structure. Maintaining good air circulation by ensuring proper spacing helps mitigate fungal issues like leaf spot. Control Japanese beetles manually by dropping them into soapy water, and manage disease pressure by avoiding overhead watering late in the day.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hardiness zones is Purple coneflower suitable for?
Echinacea purpurea ‘Finale White’ is reliably hardy in USDA Zones 3 through 8.
How large does Echinacea purpurea ‘Finale White’ grow?
This compact cultivar typically reaches a height range of 1.5 to 2 feet tall, with a spread between 1 and 1.5 feet wide.
What sun exposure does Echinacea purpurea ‘Finale White’ need?
For optimal flowering and growth, this Purple coneflower requires full sun, although it can tolerate partial shade conditions.
When does Purple coneflower bloom?
This variety blooms consistently from June through August, offering elegant white rays with copper-orange cones.
Conclusion
Echinacea purpurea ‘Finale White’ is an invaluable, low-maintenance perennial that brings bright, long-lasting white color to the summer garden. Its adaptability to varied soil types and drought makes it one of the most dependable flowering anchors for any sunny border or naturalized setting. Check your local USDA zone compatibility and plan to incorporate this robust Purple coneflower into your landscape next season for reliable performance.
Wildlife Benefits
The structure of the coneflower genus makes it a magnet for beneficial insects and birds alike. Even after the flower dries, the large, prominent seed cones of Echinacea purpurea remain stiffly upright, providing vital winter food sources for goldfinches and other seed-eating avian visitors. Planting these white coneflowers ensures a steady supply of nectar for butterflies and bees throughout the hottest months.
Companion Planting
Because Echinacea purpurea ‘Finale White’ tolerates dry soil and thrives in full sun, select companions that share these moderate cultural needs. Pair it with drought-tolerant ornamental grasses, such as Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), to add textural contrast. Other excellent partners include Salvia, Veronica, and Daylilies (Hemerocallis), which offer varied bloom times to extend the season of interest.
