Coneflowers: The Sun-Loving Workhorses of the Summer Garden

Few perennials earn their keep like coneflowers (Echinacea). They pump out daisy-like blooms all summer, thrive in full sun and heat, shrug off pests, and need less water than most garden plants. Their nectar-rich centers draw butterflies and honeybees for free entertainment.

Whether you choose the classic purple coneflower (E. purpurea) with its swept-back pinkish petals, or newer hybrids in yellow, orange, white-green, or reddish purple, the formula is simple: plant in full or filtered sun with good drainage, give them breathing room, and deadhead for extended bloom into autumn.

Top Picks by Color

Yellow: 'Mango Meadowbrite', 'Harvest Moon', 'Sunrise' (deep golden cone).
Orange: 'Orange Meadowbrite', 'Sunset' (purple-orange), 'Sundown' (intense color), 'Twilight' (red-orange).
White-Green: 'Fragrant Angel' (pure white, fragrant), 'Jade' (light green, reddish base), 'Green Envy' (purple with green tips).
Classic Purple: 'Magnus' (7-inch blooms, horizontal petals), 'Kim's Knee High' (compact, bright pink).
Novelties: 'Double-decker' (two-tiered petals), 'Razzmatazz' (double pompom top).

Buy the largest plants for first-year impact. Let late flowers go to seed—goldfinches love them, and volunteers will appear next spring. For the widest selection, try mail-order sources like High Country Gardens or Van Bourgondien.