Purple cornflower (Echinecea pupurea Moench.) is well known source of imunostimulant, antiseptic and anti-inflammatory substances from prairies of USA. First cultivation attempts for pharmaceutics in Europe were done around 1930.

In Slovenia the cultivation of the herb began in 1988. The production was organized as a co-operation with herbgrowers and it reached around 10 hectares in 1990 with average yield of 13 t/ha. The decline in production of the remedy after 1991 provoked the decline in the cultivation. In 1995 only 2,2 ha of purple cornflower were maintained. Since the demand for the remedy was growing again the Institute was consulted to re-establish cultivation. In 1996 new locations were chosen and analysis of nutrients in the soil and other analyses were done. During the seasons 1997 and 1998 approximately 1 ha and 5 ha respectively of new grounds were established. Raw material production has grown from 51.930 kg in the year 1997 to 178.400 kg for the first harvest in 1999. Since the European guidelines for manufacture of herbal products anticipate the use of high quality raw materials of known origin the guidelines for Good agricultural practice (GAP) for purple cornflower cultivation are in preparation jointly with the interested participants.