Wilting echinacea

You might remember me talking about my echinacea purpurea 'Fatal Attraction' last year and how it wilts in the 12-3pm sunlight. It's still doing it this year, peeking up in the evening and morning.

But I thought these were supposed to be very sun tolerant? It doesn't seem to harm the plant but it means during the day in summer, it just looks extremely droopy.

I don't think it's a watering problem as it seems to do it when the soil is wet or dry. Another echinacea right next to it is completely fine.

Very confused as otherwise it's extremely healthy.




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Hi Jack

I lost all mine a few years back , its a fungus that attacks the roots I sent part of the plant to the RHS to find out what it was ( I will try and find the reply as the fungus does have a name ) , it doesn't help with all the rain we have had recently or if they stay constantly wet ie watering plants that need more where you have it planted, the good thing the fungus is specific to echinacea only.

I used a Rose fungicide spray which did help but with in two years the 7 varieties I had all died and to be honest I didn't want to keep spraying, the variety that I think introduced it to my garden was " Arts Pride" which was new on the market and had originally come from America.


Echinacea as you are aware requires a well drained spot in full sun for most of the day , its a open border plant and needs space for light and air to thrive.

Have you had any black/brown leaves at the base of the plant ?

 

Oh dear, that doesn't sound good. I cants see any black or brown leaves now. The stems and younger leaves are all rigid.

I guess if I spray with a fungicide, if it makes a short term recovery that will confirm it is the fungus? And then remove it I guess :(


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Jack its not good in the long term .... some plants just dont like certain gardens I cant grow everything I want to and I have tried.

Does it get full sun for most of the day ? and free draining soil ?

I would try the fungicide , but it done the same thing last year .
"Fatal Attraction" good name !!!!

 

Ha yes! The name is very appropriate.

The fungus wasn't verticillium wilt was it?


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Crown Rot fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and since I have found out it also effects Rape seed oil plants as well and that crop is increasing the spread across the UK .

 

Ah, ok, that does sound like it fits the bill. Last year as stems were dying back in autumn, a white fluffy mould did grow up and over them. I removed those stems but looks like I need to yank the thing out before it causes wider damage. What a shame. Thanks for the help on that one.

 

well you have new space to grow something else , but check out 1st than the plant doesn't suffer from the same problem, or put a couple of annuals in.

 

Hey Spruce, I did it, yanked it out today! Do you think I need to worry about the next plant catching the fungus from the soil? I've tried to find plants that are resistant to that online but not had much luck. I have some spare Dahlia and Rudbeckias but guessing they'll be susceptible.

 

Hi

Yes both would be , I had a quick look how many plants are affected, but you must remember
echinacea is the problem with you , if me I would dig out some of the soil and replace with fresh if growing in the same spot , or use a pot to fill the space with annuals , which you will be pulling out come the autumn , the rest of your plants are fine so no need to worry

Spruce