Echinacea Alan's Pride | Echinacea purpurea | Seeds
Echinacea Alan's Pride (Echinacea purpurea) is a distinctive first-year flowering perennial producing unusual green flowers on strong stems. With its fresh green colouring and excellent garden performance, Alan's Pride is an exceptional choice for cut flower gardens, perennial borders, naturalistic plantings and landscaping.
Plants reach approximately 70 cm tall, making Alan's Pride a medium-height Echinacea with useful stems for cutting. Its unusual green flowers bring a fresh, sophisticated colour to bouquets while combining easily with both soft and vibrant flower palettes.
One of the most valuable characteristics of Alan's Pride is its ability to flower in the first year from seed when sown early and grown under suitable conditions.
Plant Information
Botanical name: Echinacea purpurea
Variety: Alan's Pride
Common name: Coneflower
Family: Asteraceae
Botanical category: First-year flowering perennial
Life cycle: Perennial
Flower colour: Green
Plant height: approx. 70 cm
Height category: Medium
Flowering / harvest: July–October
Position: Full sun
Use: Cut flowers, perennial beds, landscaping and naturalistic plantings
Pollinator friendly: Attracts beneficial insects
Days to germinate: approx. 7–14 days
Germination temperature: approx. 20°C
Light: Light aids germination
TSW: approx. 4 g
Unique Green Echinacea
Alan's Pride stands out for its unusual green flowers, offering a distinctive alternative to the more familiar pink and purple shades traditionally associated with Echinacea purpurea.
The fresh green colouring is particularly versatile for floral design. It combines beautifully with white, cream, blush pink, apricot, yellow, burgundy, purple and other green flowers and foliage.
In perennial plantings, the green flowers also blend naturally with ornamental grasses and other summer-flowering plants, creating a relaxed and contemporary effect.
Medium-Height Variety for Cut Flowers
Alan's Pride grows to approximately 70 cm, placing it in the medium-height category.
The upright stems are useful for cutting and work particularly well in natural garden-style bouquets, seasonal arrangements and contemporary floristry.
Its green colouring can function both as a focal element and as a transition between different flower colours in mixed bouquets.
Flowers in the First Year
Alan's Pride belongs to the group of first-year flowering perennials.
When sown sufficiently early and grown under suitable conditions, plants can produce flowers during their first growing season.
As a perennial, established plants can return in subsequent years and develop into stronger, more mature plants.
Sowing Alan's Pride Seeds
For first-year flowering, an early indoor sowing is recommended.
Sow the seeds onto the surface of a fine, moist and well-drained seed-starting substrate.
Germination temperature: approximately 20°C
Germination: approximately 7–14 days
Light: Light aids germination
Because light supports germination, avoid covering the seeds deeply. Press them gently onto the surface or cover only very lightly while maintaining good contact with the moist growing medium.
Keep the substrate evenly moist during germination without allowing it to become waterlogged.
Growing the Seedlings
After germination, provide seedlings with plenty of light and good air circulation.
Once the young plants are large enough to handle, transplant them into larger cells or individual pots to allow the root system to develop.
Before planting outdoors, gradually harden the plants to outdoor conditions.
Plant into their permanent position once conditions are suitable and the risk of severe frost has passed.
Growing Conditions
Alan's Pride performs best in full sun and well-drained soil.
Water young plants regularly while they establish, but avoid persistently wet conditions. Good drainage is particularly important for healthy perennial growth.
Once established, Echinacea is a robust garden perennial suitable for perennial borders, cut flower gardens and larger landscape plantings.
Flowering
Alan's Pride flowers primarily from July through October, depending on sowing time, climate and growing conditions.
Regular removal of faded flowers can help keep the plants attractive and encourage continued flower production.
For cut flower use, harvest stems once the flowers have developed their characteristic green colour and reached a suitable stage for arranging.
For Naturalistic and Pollinator-Friendly Gardens
Alan's Pride is an excellent choice for perennial borders, naturalistic gardens, prairie-inspired plantings, landscaping and cut flower gardens.
The unusual green flowers provide structure without overwhelming surrounding colours, making the variety particularly easy to integrate into mixed perennial plantings.
The flowers also attract beneficial insects and pollinators, adding ecological value to summer and autumn gardens.
Why Grow Alan's Pride?
Unique green flowers • Approx. 70 cm tall • Medium-height variety • Perennial • Can flower in the first year • Flowers July–October • Excellent for cut flowers • Suitable for landscaping • Ideal for perennial and naturalistic plantings • Attracts beneficial insects • 7–14 days to germinate
Echinacea purpurea Alan's Pride is an excellent choice for growers looking for green Echinacea seeds for cut flowers and perennial gardens. Its unusual green colour, useful 70 cm stems and ability to flower in the first year make it a distinctive addition to both cutting gardens and landscape plantings.
