Coneflowers are bright perennials, some of which are used in herbal remedies. These flowers are easy to care for, relatively drought-tolerant, and are good for cut flowers. Coneflowers are daisy-like with raised centers. The seeds found in the dried flower head also attract songbirds to your garden.
Planting
- Loosen the soil in your garden using a garden fork or tiller to 12 to 15 inches deep, then mix in a 2– to 4–inch layer of compost.
- Plant the seeds in the spring in humus-rich, well-drained soil about 1 to 3 feet apart, depending on the type, in full sun. Coneflowers can tolerate some shade.
- If you are moving a potted plant outside from inside, dig a hole about twice the pot’s diameter and carefully place the plant in the soil. Bury the plant to the top of the root ball, but make sure the root ball is level with the soil surface. Water it thoroughly.
Care
- In the spring, put a thin layer of compost around the plants, then a 2–inch layer of mulch to help keep the plants moist and prevent weeds.
- If you receive less than an inch of rain a week, water your plants regularly during the summer.
- If your plants are floppy, cut them to the ground after they flower.
- Remember to cut off the dead/faded flowers to prolong to blooming season and prevent excessive self-seeding. To attract birds, keep the late-season flowers on the plants to mature.
- Divide your plants into clumps every 3 to 4 years in spring or autumn, although coneflowers do not like excessive disturbance.
Pests/Diseases
- Leaf miners
- Powdery mildew
- Bacterial spots
- Gray mold
- Vine weevils
Recommended Varieties
- Robert Bloom (Echinacea purpurea), which has prominent, dark orange centers with bright crimson flower petals.
- Tennessee coneflower (Echinacea tennesseensis), which has greenish-pink centers with dark mauve flower petals.
- Finale White (Echinacea purpurea), which has creamy white flower heads with greenish-brown centers.
Wit & Wisdom
- Coneflowers both attract butterflies and repel deer, so they’ll keep your garden just how you want it!
- Applying an infusion of coneflower will help soothe a sunburn.
