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Posted On: October 14th 2026, 11:03 pm
The tag on a nursery pot tells you whether you are buying the wild plant or a bred version of it. Once you know what to look for, it takes about five seconds to read.
A straight species tag has the Latin name by itself, like Echinacea purpurea. A cultivar adds a second name in single quotes, like Echinacea purpurea 'White Swan'. That quoted name means somebody selected or bred the plant for a look.
Sometimes the look costs the bees. Oregon State University Extension says doubled petals "may block access to nectaries or pollen," and its advice is to choose the simpler single blossoms. Plenty of cultivars are fine. When you can't tell, the straight species is the sure bet.
Save this for your next nursery trip. Pollinator Patch plans native gardens for your area: https://thepollinatorpatchgarden.com/go/ig-tip
A straight species tag has the Latin name by itself, like Echinacea purpurea. A cultivar adds a second name in single quotes, like Echinacea purpurea 'White Swan'. That quoted name means somebody selected or bred the plant for a look.
Sometimes the look costs the bees. Oregon State University Extension says doubled petals "may block access to nectaries or pollen," and its advice is to choose the simpler single blossoms. Plenty of cultivars are fine. When you can't tell, the straight species is the sure bet.
Save this for your next nursery trip. Pollinator Patch plans native gardens for your area: https://thepollinatorpatchgarden.com/go/ig-tip
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