(NEW YORK, NY—SEPTEMBER,
2008)
 Echinacea
Purpurea ‘Green Envy’™
A green flower is a rarity. A green flower
in the Echinacea family—yes, that healthful herbaceous plant genus that
helps ward off winter cold symptoms—is nothing to sneeze
at, which is why this serendipitous incarnation has been patented,
bred and is now available for gardeners worldwide to grow and
enjoy.
‘Green
Envy’, a cultivar of Echinacea Purpurea, joins the family
of perennial beauties that include a familiar purple edition
(the one that yields medicinal value), white, and a recently
developed bright mango-colored flower. The jade green petal
color of ‘Green Envy’ and the deeper green of its
cone-shaped center distinguish this breed from the others plus
make it a true one-of-a-kind bloom. The vibrant color continues
from the time it begins to flower in mid-July through the fall
months. Adding to its unique traits, as the ‘Green Envy’ flower
matures, the petals take on a magenta veining and elongate
from their round shape, while the cone gradually turns a deep
purplish hue. Such bi-color features are unheard of in any
other Echinacea bloom.
As for its curative features, “Green
Envy,” according to testing conducted
by the country’s leading Echinacea expert at the University
of Kansas, has the same healing properties of the traditional
purple variety, but even more active. The potential health
benefits that can be derived from ‘Green
Envy’ have not even begun to be explored yet.
As
is typical of other Echinacea, ‘Green Envy’ grows
in a range of habitats, with the optimum cultivation locales
in USDA Zones 4-9. It is able to thrive in average soils or
hot, dry conditions, and is resistant to cold and frost. The
plant will reach a height of between 30-to-36 inches. Cut flowers
will last up to 10 days, making it a hardy, attractive choice
for floral arrangements.
‘Green
Envy’ was recently introduced at the prestigious Plantarium
show in Holland, and then at the Perennial Plant Association’s
annual symposium this past July in Philadelphia. It can be
purchased at fine garden centers or through leading mail/online
order catalogs including White Flower Farms, Plant Delights,
Van Bourgondien/Dutch Bulbs, Wayside Gardens and GreatGardenPlants.com.
Single plants range from $12 to $29. Visit GetGreenEnvy.com for
more information.
Press Contact
Nicole Janok
Veeder + Perman
Nicole@VeederPerman.com
212.966.3759
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