Purple coneflowers, also known as Echinacea, are attractive and rugged flowers that draw butterflies and songbirds to the garden! Here’s how to grow coneflowers.
Bright and colorful, these perennials are daisy-like with raised centers, and it’s the seeds found in the dried flower heads that attract birds as well as butterflies.
They tend to bloom midsummer, are relatively drought-tolerant, and can take the heat! Coneflowers also make great cut flowers!
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Coneflowers
I am 80 years of age and I have had many years of interest in the flowers. I did a water colour painting of an American “Lady tending coneflowers” copying from a photo sent to me by a lady in SAN ANTONIO. I still have the painting but no connection with anyone in America but it still hangs in our lounge. John Grice
Coneflower division?
I've read that coneflowers should be divided occasionally. I've grown them for many years. All of mine grow from a rosette of leaves . . . they don't look like anything that would tolerate division. Can you elaborate on the process of dividing them?
Dividing Coneflowers
Coneflowers should be divided every four or five years, provided that they are healthy enough to tolerate division, and that they are indeed in need of it. To divide a coneflower plant, gently lift the plant out of the ground with a shovel and remove any excess dirt. Untangle any intertwined roots, and depending on the size of the plant and how overgrown it is, you may be able to pull it apart at the base with your hands, or you may need to use a knife or pruning shears to cut apart the base. Leave several stems (rosettes) on each division and lightly trim back the longer roots if they seem excessive. That’s really all there is to it! Dividing can be done in the spring or early fall.
Purple and red echinacea blooming white
I planted a red Echinacea in some cheap potting soil and all of its flowers bloomed white. I went out an bought a purple variety with purple blooms on it and many unopened blossoms. I planted it in the same soil, and in a few days, the new blossoms opened and were also white. The plant had only been in the cheap soil for 2-3 days, and there are now both white and purple flowers on the same plant. What's happening? I'm going to replant them in better soil to see what happens.
cone flowers not coming back
I have had cone flowers for MANY years in multiple gardens in my yard - this year not one of them came back. I live in Michigan and have never deadheaded them - I leave them for the birds to have in the winter. I can't imagine why none would have come back (?) any suggestions ?
Coneflower
Can I transplant the plants to another area in September or October?
Transplanting Coneflowers
Yes, you can transplant (and/or divide) coneflowers in the fall. When digging them up, try not to disturb their roots too much, as they do not appreciate it.
Conefowers
I planted a beautiful red coneflower in a small circle garden i have in the back yard.my back yard is completely fenced, so no deer. 3 days later, every blossom is gone not a petal on the ground even. Plant is fine just empty stems. A rabbit perhaps? Although we rarely see any. I live in Western WA so no woodchucks. What deters rabbits besides an ugly fence?
Rabbit Deterrents
Please see our Rabbit Pest Page for tips on how to keep rabbits out of your garden.
rabits - chipmunks - squirrels - deer
We live in the woods. I can hardly keep any flowers around outside because of these little pests. Finally after trying every thing I could think of.....spray bottle of about 4 ozs water with a tablespoon of Murphys Oil. Shake and spray. I do this every few days. Even my small trees I planted. IT WORKS. Finally
COLOR CHANGE
Hi I see a few people have asked the same question about buying yellow orange or red cone flowers and they turn pink or purple. I had the same problem and it wasn't the wrong tag because the flowers were in bloom and my soil seems fine I have no problem growing flowers. I asked at the store where I purchased them and they did not know the answer but we're going to research and see if they could find out what happened. I was so disappointed for the colors that I had chosen to turn pink when I had plenty of pink LOL . I also planted the colored ones on the opposite side of my yard away from the pink ones . Is there any other answer or any way to find out what is happening?
the coneflower color puzzle
Thanks for taking the time to scroll through the comments, Beth. We may have found a hint of solution to this puzzle: hybrids. A U of Illinois extension service columnist noted (in 2014) that she had similar experiences with coneflower soon after the introduction of unique Echinacea cultivars in the early 2000s. She records “so-so” results with several of the new plants, including death of some. And she reports having one plant bloom in two colors—one as advertised, so to speak, and one the traditional purple. And after it all, she says she is sticking with the traditional purple variety, Ehinacea purpurea. If you would like to read the column, it’s here: http://web.extension.illinois.edu/dmp/eb259/entry_8671/
Finally! Thanks for being the one to bring this all to light!
cone flower color change
Many hybrid plants including turf grass return to there parent plants genes after a few years. Echinacea was the quickest return to original color that I have ever seen. We planted purple, orange, yellow and white echinacea and after 2nd year 90% purple. After splitting last year we had a few volunteer orange and yellow return but not the numbers that we planted. Good luck
Just a word of caution, buy
Just a word of caution, buy from a reputable dealer, don't buy from some random person on ebay. I thought I was getting "Cheyenne Spirit" with different color flowers on one plant, but when it bloomed they are all pink! Nothing wrong with pink but it surely was a disappointment.
2nd yield in one season
I have a well established crop of cone flower. I live in Missouri. If I cut them down after the first harvest of cut flowers will I get a second yield of blooms in the same season.
keep coneflower blooming
Echinacea (Coneflower) can give you a second showing in a fall. Pinching off deadheads isn’t necessary (as it would be needed for some plants such as black-eyed susans) but it does help keep the plant neat.
Something is eating my coneflower petals
I have the most beautiful red coneflowers that are about 3 years old. Something is eating the petals leaving just the "ball" centers. The leaves look healthy but I can't figure out what's happening to my beautiful flowers. Can you advise? Thanks!
Coneflower Pests
There are a few different pests that could be doing the damage. Common culprits are Japanese beetles, earwigs, and cucumber beetles, though you would normally expect petals and foliage to be left with holes or chunks missing, rather than be completely eaten. If your plants are low enough to the ground, the damage could be caused by rabbits, too. See our Pest Pages for more information. To really figure out what is eating your plants, you may have to do some detective work. Check the undersides of leaves and in the soil around the plants, and investigate at night to see if you can catch a bug in the act. Good luck!
Coneflowers
When the flowers start to look old and scraggly, do I cut the entire leaf or pop them off the stem. Have read most of these comments. Thank you SO much for ALL of this knowledge. I learned I can plant my seeds off the flowers.Yeah!!!!!
Deadheading Coneflowers
Cut the flower off just above the nearest leaf node to encourage more blooms. You can save the flower head if you’d like to collect the seeds for planting. Note that coneflower seeds are a favorite food of goldfinches, so leaving a few blooms on the plant will not only result in automatic reseeding, but also very happy birds.
Compost vs. Manure
Which is better and healthier for the cone flower? I recently bought a bag of manure and I'm not going to lie, I've already spread it around my plants and flowers. Will this have any consequences to my cone flower?
growing echinacea (coneflower)
You’re in luck! Either’s fine. Put two inches of organic matter (compost or manure) around coneflowers. That’s all they need–no other fertilizer. But if you use manure, it should be aged enough that it’s brown and crumbly and no longer heating up the soil when you turn or mix it.
white coneflowers
I have had a white coneflower going very well for at least 3-4 years. This year it is blooming purple.. Any idea what caused that?
coneflower changing color
We have heard of some “White Swan” coneflowers reverting to purple. Or, it’s possible that your plant was a hybrid cross between white and purple and dropped a seed last year that grew purple? Hard to say!
Coneflower
I planted 3 Echinacea plants in my garden last year and am hoping they return this year But it is june so far nothing. Does this mean I should try to plant them again?
Coneflowers Not Coming Back
Unfortunately, if you’re not seeing any sign of life by mid-summer, the coneflowers likely did not make it. For future plantings, keep in mind that coneflowers prefer well-drained soil that’s on the drier side. If they are planted in a particularly wet area, their roots may rot.
coneflower
Everyone says they do well in clay soil. Clay soil does not drain well. "Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) These plants (herbs, actually) do very well in clay-heavy soil, are drought tolerant, and come in a variety of colors — the purple blooms will stop you in your tracks. ... It's a striking flower that does very well in clay soil." So do they like well-drained soil or clay soil? Kinda confused.
Hardiness planting zone
Will these thrive in zone 10, 11 ? Tropical weather ?
Coneflowers hardiness zones
Coneflowers are not hardy for zones 10 and 11. See the zone list at the top of this page (on right side).
Color of Cone Flowers
Why do our cone flowers that are supposed to be multi-colored turn out to be all pink? Does soil PH affect the color of cone flowers?
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