Straggly purple cone flower

by Holly
(Greeley, Colorado)

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 tall and leggy already. Can I cut the straggly plants back to help them bush out more? The plants in sunnier places seem to get leggy.

Doug says cut them back to 6-9 inches when they get to one foot tall and that will thicken them up. You should only have to do this once and then the plant will get the message and you won't have this problem in the future. That's assuming the plant is in the full sun and getting enough sunlight to thicken up.