Coneflower
It is a member of the compositae family; which is just a botanist's way of saying it belongs to the daisy family and anybody who ever looked at one could have told them that anyway.
The Name
I've always thought of the cone flower slightly backward flower petals as daisies-in-a-hurry. Long-lasting in my garden, they bloom right through July and August, particularly if deadheaded and not allowed to go to seed. The name Echinacea comes from the Greek, echinos or hedgehog. I'm sure this was an allusion to the prickly nature of the seedhead. The specific epithet (second name) of purpurea refers to the reddish-purple tone of the flower. So, if you've been following all that – we have a flower that resembles a reddish-purple hedgehog. Sounds just about right for my garden
Herbal Use
Many of you will no doubt be familiar with the cone flower for its herbal use. Its roots are used as an immune booster – if taken for a few days before a cold really sets in it is purported to ward off the worst effects of the virus. A word of caution here to the wise – recent studies have shown that it should only be taken for a few days or one week at the most. Prolonged use reduces its effect.
Personally, I'm not sure which of the resins, fatty acids, glycosides or other more esoteric compounds of the cone flower is supposed to accomplish this task, I am sure however of a 1915 study that found Echinacea had no antibacterial or aphrodisiac powers. So, it is safe to take for a cold with no secondary side effects.
Yellow coneflower'
Growing Conditions
The entire family of cone flower or Echinacea loves the open sunny garden. It thrives in drier gardens than most other plants so it is a good plant for that hot, dry spot.
Do water it to establish new plantings but once established, it can thrive on its own. The really nice thing about this plant is that it will also tolerate some light shade and good soil.
The only thing that will shorten the cone flower lifespan is heavy clay soils or constantly damp soils; it does not like to have its roots constantly wet. It likes good drainage.
I have found the plant does really well in moderately fertile soils and if there is enough water in mid summer when it is setting seed, there is no problem with obtaining more plants.
'Fatal Attraction'
Propagation
The cone flower self-sows prolifically in my garden. You can propagate them from seed collected from a friend's garden, or whacking off a division from an established plant will easily transfer plants between friends. For the botanically interested, you can also propagate this one by root cuttings. So, if you have one of the nicer forms that doesn't come true from seed, division or root cuttings will easily increase the numbers.
Video
Good Varieties
Echinacea purpurea is the most common species found in garden centres and breeders are starting to develop some interesting cultivars.
'White Star' is a pale white form. I've had this in the garden and let me caution you not to let this plant self sow. It does not breed true so all offspring will revert darker and darker back to the species purple-pink. If you want more than one of this plant, you'll have to sow extra seed and grow them yourself. This plant is an easily started perennial daisy, and if you start your own perennials, it will present no problems.
'Magnus' is another seed started cultivar making the rounds and it has a slightly darker flower than the species. I like this one but it too doesn't breed true – at least it never did in my garden.
There are a whole range of new hybrids on the market including the double 'Razzmatazz' , fragrant white 'Fragrant Angel' including yellows and oranges galore.
These are all wonderful plants and I recommend them highly. It is almost impossible to keep up with them all.
'White Swan'
Other Interesting Species
Two related plants that you might consider growing in your wild garden area are Echinacea pallida and E. angustifolia.
Echinacea pallida is a paler form of cone flower; the flower is a light purplish-pink, as its name “pallida” would suggest. I've had this plant several times and it has died out for me. I think I treated it too well, growing it in the good soil of the perennial border where it got too soft to survive the winter, and collected too many of the seeds to allow it to self-sow.
Echinacea angustifolia is quite hardy with a light purplish bloom (more purple than pink) but is not an exceptional garden plant compared to E. purpurea. I've grown it as well and would consign it to the cutting wild garden out in the dry wild meadow.
So, grow these hardy cone flowers in your sunny perennial border if you are looking for a good mid to late summer blooming perennial. And, if you get too many, you can always dig the roots to safely stop those early winter colds.
'Magnus' (below)
Search here
How To Get Your Question Answered
1) Enter your email into the box. I don't use your email other than to send you updates and answers so if I can't contact you to give you an answer, I don't answer the question.
2) Give us more information than you think we need. "Why did my plant die?" isn't enough info for us. You have to tell us the where, how, what, when of it all. What were you doing or not so we can help you.
3) Check the search box above -if it's been answered before, I won't answer it now Hey - if you don't want to spend time reading the articles and answers we've already done - why would I ask my other readers to repeat themselves.
4) If at all possible, add a picture Questions with relevant pictures stand a better chance of being answered.
5) Thank the volunteer or person who answers your question.
Answers will be in the comments sections below the questions.
Ask Questions About Coneflowers Here
If you have a question feel free to ask it using this form.
Questions without email addresses (you enter that on next page) will not be answered. I don't use them in any other way but if I can't be sure you'll read the answer...
Please understand that I do not answer the same question over and over. So if a question looks like it could be similar to yours - it probably is.
Have patience - there's one of me and lots of you and I simply can't get to all the questions. If it's an emergency, contact your nearest garden center.
If you have a pic, add it!
Read What Other Readers Have Asked
Click below to see contributions from other visitors to this page...
Planting Coneflowers from seed Hi...I am hoping to plant some coneflower seed in order to establish a large batch of coneflowers. Could you tell me which variety does best planted by ...
Leaves curled up
Why are some of the leaves on my coneflowers curling up and feel dried out. Others are healthy in the same bed.
Doug says that curling leaves are ...
Straggly purple cone flower I planted purple cone flower from seed last year and they grew tall and leggy. This spring some are much bushier, but some are still straggly and getting ...
Coneflower Problem - Deformed Blooms I have coneflower problems. Last year I began to notice that some of the centers of the cones were developing some sort of deformed growth - green growing ...
Reseeding from plant When should I plant the seeds kept from plants ? I have scattered seeds from wilted flowers in the early spring and late fall , but my cone flower garden ...
Purple Coneflower White? Hello! I just bought 2 purple coneflowers which I have not planted yet. Some of the blooms that are opening are white. Will they turn purple, or should ...
Cone flowers don't bloom I transplanted some healthy cone flowers three years ago and since then they grow, but don't bloom. The buds that do appear are small and if any flowers ...
wilting plants Cannot get my starter coneflowers to stop wilting and dying out. Just got 3" plants and the leaves seem to wilt and sag. Won't start on their own. Any ...
Cone flowers did not appear this spring! I bought 6 or 7 coneflowers last year and doug out nice places with good soil, drainage , etc. Everything I thought they needed. I mulched them this ...
When to transfer seedlings
Hi!
(NY, Zone 5 or 6 depending who you ask)
I have some echinacea seedlings that I planted in early March ranging from 1-2 inches high with 3 to 4 leaves....
cone flowers fell over
My cone flowers grew real well and then they fell over.
Any suggestions or reason why this happened. Thanks
Doug says there are two possible culprits....
Winter Care & Pruning I live in the Nashville, TN Area and have planted coneflowers for the first time. They are white. They have gone dormat for the winter. Do I cut them ...
problem with lime coneflower
My lime and peach colored coneflowers have NO petals!. . . just heads. The purple coneflowers are fine. Why?
Doug says that it "sounds like" aster ...
Big Sky coneflowers My Big Sky Sunset coneflower bloomed in the expected color the first year. In subsequent years it seems to have reverted to the old standard purple coneflower....
If you want to ask a question about growing coneflower, click here
Pin It
