Coneflowers, also known as Echinacea, are tough little native flowers that draw butterflies, bees, and birds to the garden! Here’s how to grow this American native—and important tips on plant care, from deadheading to cutting back in June.
Bright upright plants, coneflowers are a North American perennial in the Daisy family (Asteraceae). Specifically, the plant is native to the eastern United States, from Iowa and Ohio south to Louisiana and Georgia. They grow 2 to 4 feet in height with dark green foliage. They are fast growers and self-sow their seed profusely. These midsummer bloomers can flower from midsummer through fall frost!
Their genus name Echinacea comes from the Latin name for hedgehog, echinus, referring to the often prickly lower stem of the plant. Coneflowers have raised cone-like centers (hence, the name) which contain seeds that attract butterflies. Leave the seed heads after bloom and you’ll also attract songbirds!
Trouble-free, coneflowers are drought-tolerant, once established. They can take the heat! As native plants with prickly stems, they are more deer-resistant than most flowering plants.
The most common species available to gardeners is Echinacea purpurea, the purple coneflower. If purple doesn’t pair well with your garden’s color palette, don’t fret: coneflowers can be found in a range of bright or subdued colors.
Coneflowers are at home in a traditional garden or a wildflower meadow; they are striking in masses, especially as a mix of various colors.
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Hi Sandi, If you use pre
Hi Sandi,
If you use pre emergents to kill the fox tails you will not be able to plant your flower seeds in that location next year. Collect the dried seed heads and seeds from your flowers this fall and store them in envelopes or containers over the winter. Next spring plant them in different spot or build a raised bed with fresh soil.
I am attempting to make a
I am attempting to make a butterfly garden.. I burned the area, disked, and sprayed with roundup. I planted a bunch of plants, Holly hocks, black eyed susans, Cheyenne coneflowers, Shasta daisys, and more. But when grass started coming up-I thought this is ok I wanted a natural look. However I wasn't counting on Giant Foxtail, which grew over 5-6 feet tall and shaded everthing. I have been told to use preemergent spray next spring-but what about the seeds from my other plants?
I would get rid of the
I would get rid of the roundup and all chemicals for next year. They are toxic for butterflies and bees.
I've been trying to grow
I've been trying to grow coneflowers from seeds tree years now ( no success the past two ) this year finally they grow, but then when they start giving flowers I notice the that someting was wrong, the center looks so brown and uneven I cut the flower and pinch it open and what a surprise I find a lot of tiny worms, I cut all the flowers that look like they have the same problem hoping that I will get rid of the problem but unfortunately the new flowers have the same problem and also my zinnias have been affected by, what can I do ?
Good morning, Our Almanac
Good morning, Our Almanac Garden Guide Editor reviewed your problem and, even though we don't have a picture, she finetuned our dianosis. She says it sounds more like eriophyid mites (tiny worms) or sunflower moth larvae. Here is more information:
http://www.clemson.edu/extensi...
http://www.hort.purdue.edu/new...
If you do wish to email a photo, you can send it to: AlmanacEditors@yankeepub.com
We hope this helps. Sincerely, your OFA editors
The woodchucks and rabbits
The woodchucks and rabbits have devestated my echinacea plants this season,both those in the ground and those in pots that were to be planted. WIll they come back next year after having been denuded?They came back this year but not as strong as first year and they were partially eaten last season. I fear not enough sugars were produced for the root stock to survive the winter!?
The plants will come back
The plants will come back next year but maybe not as big and strong as in past years. We suggest that you come up with a plan to protect them so that critters will not be able to eat them next season. Maybe a fence or move them to a different area of your garden.
My cone flowers have always
My cone flowers have always done well, but this year lots of them had extra little shoots come up on the centerpart of bloom and they never had any color. What do you suggest I do?
I read about something called
I read about something called Aster yellows this may be what you are experiencing.
I planted Echinacea with the
I planted Echinacea with the intention of.harvesting it for.its cough suppressing properties..only problem is..I dont know when to harvest..and how would I go about using it? Do I just boil and seep or let it set and how does it even work? My apologies if this is the wrong place for these questions. Thank you
First time for me with
First time for me with coneflowers. Some are doing great others seem to turn black over night. I cut off the black flower. Some of the plants just turn black and gray and die
Hi Roena, Too much water can
Hi Roena,
Too much water can cause cone flowers to turn brown or black and wither. They grow best in dry to slightly moist soil.
i recently purchased a white
i recently purchased a white cone flower today all the flowers have been taken off I have purple cone flowers which remain fine and ive had for years. what can i put around or on the white cone flower to deter whatever is eating it. we do have a rabbit that comes around once in awhile and daily squirrels.
I bought 5 WHITE coneflower
I bought 5 WHITE coneflower plants from Lowe's. They were already all blooming. They all had PURE WHITE petals and a golden yellow colored center. Recently, ALL of my 5 plants' petals are looking a greenish color - all the way through the petal, not white. The centers have turned from a golden yellow to a chartreuse color. What is going on?
I recently bought several
I recently bought several coneflower plants and just planted them in crocks for my daughters wedding in 3 weeks. What do I need to do for them tomlook their best for her wedding? They look great right now.
Hi, Hoosier1: 1. Read and
Hi, Hoosier1: 1. Read and follow the care tips above. 2. Watch for pests. 3. Make sure they don't get too hot. They can definitely take full sun, but feel free to move them temporarily into partial shade or to where there's a breeze on a scorcher. 4. Take this off your list, chill, and have a great wedding. Congratulations to your daughter from The OFA -- and you can quote us!
My mother planted the roots
My mother planted the roots of coneflowers this past spring. There is no sign of any growth. Will growth happen next year?
That's one prediction that we
That's one prediction that we can not make with certainty, Gina.
We can tell you that the best results of dividing, or planting the roots of, coneflowers (aka echinacea) are achieved by taking a "good-size" clump of a thriving plant—not small pieces in hopes of setting more plants. Ideally, the soil should be broken up a bit (not compact) so the roots have room to roam. And the soil should be kept moist but not wet.
If division is done when the plant is dormant, too much water could cause root rot. March to September are the most propitious times for dividing this plant.
I live in the city, and the
I live in the city, and the wildlife we get are raccoons, possums, squirrels and a variety of birds. Something is coming into my garden and eating the tops off my purple coneflowers. By the tops, I mean the flowers themselves. Do any of the animals I've mentioned eat the tops off coneflowers? And if so, what can I do to stop them, short of putting out poison or anything else that is lethal and dangerous?
If you have woodchucks
If you have woodchucks (groundhogs) or rabbits around, they particularly like coneflower. If it is just the petals missing, it may be earwigs.
Does soil acidity affect cone
Does soil acidity affect cone flower color, as with hydrangeas?
No, the same is not true of
No, the same is not true of coneflower.
*Columbine
*Columbine
I am adding 3 New colors of
I am adding 3 New colors of coneflowers to my yard, do I need to plant them away from each other? Will they mix colors ? This seemed to happen with my colombine. Thanks.
I was praying for bugs in
I was praying for bugs in weeds with bug and weed killer on my cauliflower and now they are all hungover and sad what should I do? should I cut them off?
It's the power of sprayer!
It's the power of sprayer!
Oh, I'm relieved! I thought
Oh, I'm relieved! I thought she was praying for bugs and weeds.
What was in your sprayer
What was in your sprayer previous to the bug spray? Sounds like you had weed killer in it. After spraying, wash your sprayer with cold water, then hot soapy water, then rinse again with cold. Otherwise have separate sprayer for bug spray.
I planted coneflowers for the
I planted coneflowers for the first time this year and something is eating the petals of the flowers. I have looked and don't see anything. Any suggestions?
If you have finches in your
If you have finches in your area it could be them. For whatever reason, finches love to eat my coneflower leaves.
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