With their cone-shaped centers and drooping pinkish-purplish petals, coneflowers are some of the most instantly recognizable perennials to grace any garden.
Would coneflowers be a good fit for your garden? What do you need to know to take care of them? In this guide, we will tell you all about these beautiful daisy-like flowers and how you can grow them successfully.
Jump to:
- What Are Coneflowers?
- Coneflower Basics
- Why Grow Coneflowers?
- Recommended Coneflower Varieties
- What Are Hybrid Coneflowers?
- Where Do Coneflowers Grow?
- When Do Coneflowers Bloom?
- How Long Do Coneflowers Bloom?
- When to Plant Coneflowers
- How to Plant Coneflowers
- Ideal Growing Conditions for Coneflowers
- How to Care for Coneflowers
- How to Deadhead Coneflowers
- Recommended Companion Plants for Coneflowers
- Frequently Asked Questions About Growing Coneflowers
- Where to Buy Coneflowers
What Are Coneflowers?
There are ten species of coneflowers. Collectively, they are known as Echinacea plants. They belong to the Asteraceae family along with daisies, black-eyed Susans, sunflowers, and chrysanthemums. While we often refer to them as “coneflowers” in a gardening context, we tend to reference “Echinacea” when we talk about their use in traditional medicine.
The most well-known coneflowers are the purplish-pinkish ones, but orange flowers, white flowers, yellow flowers, and others are possible. In fact, coneflowers even can come in green, which is pretty unique!
You might be wondering about the name Echinacea and where it comes from. The origin is the Latin word echinus, which means “hedgehog.”
Coneflowers do not look anything like hedgehogs, but their stems can be prickly. That is the reason for the hedgehog reference.
Coneflower Basics
| Zones: | 3-9 |
| Blooming season: | Summer-autumn |
| Expected height: | 2-4 feet |
| Soil: | Loamy |
| Sun: | Full sun |
Why Grow Coneflowers?
- The centers and petals of coneflowers are dramatic and eye-catching. While coneflowers have a recognizable classic look, you will find a surprising amount of variety between different cultivars.
- There are numerous colors to choose from, some of which are pretty unexpected. How often is it that you find flowers that are completely green, for example, even the petals? Yet multiple varieties of coneflower showcase this distinctive hue.
- Butterflies and birds are both drawn to coneflowers. Some types of butterflies that like coneflowers include painted ladies, swallowtails, red-spotted admirals, and more. So, if you want to invite some friendly guests to your garden, planting coneflowers is a great way to do it.
- Coneflowers are easy to plant and grow and can tolerate a wide range of conditions, including heat and drought. As such, they are popular with gardeners of all skill levels, novices included.
- Deer tend to keep away from coneflowers since their stems are so prickly.
Recommended Coneflower Varieties
There are many lovely cultivars of coneflowers you can consider growing. Here are a few to think about:
PowWow Wild Berry: In search of a purple coneflower plant? This variety of Echinacea features the iconic pinkish-purplish petals that many people picture when they think of coneflowers. It does best in cooler climates, and is small enough that you can fit it in a limited space.
Leilani: If you want a variety of coneflower that resembles sunflowers, consider this gorgeous cultivar. Sunny yellow petals make for a striking display, and the strong stems can stand up to harsh weather. If you live in a warmer climate, this can be a good option.
White Swan: This cultivar is also just known as “white coneflower.” White coneflowers feature yellow middles, and look a bit like daisies.
Pin Double Delight. Here is a type of coneflower with a distinctly different appearance, thanks to its fluffy layers of petals. The bright pink color is dazzling.
Big Sky™ Harvest Moon: Here is another type of yellow coneflower. The centers are large, and the petals are on the thin side with wide spaces between them.
Fatal Attraction: Purple stems and deep pinkish-purplish petals make these dramatically-named flowers stand out wherever you plant them.
Hot Papaya: Initially, these flowers are golden in color, and then they become a bright, fiery orangey-reddish hue. They feature layers of petals, and are fluffy in the middle.
Green Envy: Have you ever wanted to plant green flowers in your garden? “Green Envy” may be just the right coneflower for you. The petals are initially green, and then start to turn magenta around the center. This type of coneflower does well in a warmer climate.
Coconut Lime. Another option you might enjoy in your garden is the Coconut Lime cultivar. Whereas Green Envy featured green petals, this type features a lime green center. The petals themselves are whitish-yellow.
Double Decker. For a really unusual-looking flower for your garden, consider the Double Decker. You won’t notice anything odd the first blooming season. It will just look like a regular coneflower plant with pink petals. But the second year, you will see an extra layer of pink petals on top of the central cone of each flower.
Kim’s Knee High. Looking for a compact coneflower cultivar? Kim’s Knee High coneflowers reach 12-24 inches in height, and feature beautiful pink blooms.
Green Jewel: These coneflowers are entirely green through and through. Their petals are light green and their centers are dark green.
Fragrant Angel: Another type of coneflower that features white petals is the “Fragrant Angel.” The cones are prominent, and the stems are long.
Milkshake: You’ll be able to see right away where this coneflower got its name when you behold its frothy yellowish-whitish center.
Pixie Meadowbrite: For a dwarf coneflower with lovely pink petals, look no further than the appealing “Pixie Meadowbrite.”
Cheyenne Spirit. Can’t decide what colors of coneflowers you want? Well, just pick up some Cheyenne Spirit coneflowers to plant in your garden. You’ll get a combination of hues, including orange, yellow, red, pink, and purple.
Those are just some examples of some of the varieties of coneflowers you can find. There are many others that are worth considering for your garden as well.
What Are Hybrid Coneflowers?
Coneflowers can be clumped into two categories: native plants, and hybrids.
Indeed, native coneflowers are always either yellow or purplish. The other cultivars of coneflowers are all hybrids.
These hybrids were made by cross-breeding between native varieties.
The reason to purchase hybrid coneflowers is obvious—it will bring a wider rainbow of colors to your garden.
But are there any drawbacks? Unfortunately, yes. For starters, coneflower hybrids are not always as hardy or reliable as native Echinacea plants.
For another thing, coneflower hybrids like the Double Decker make pollination impossible. So, if you want to attract butterflies to your garden, you need to make sure you are choosing flowers that actually let them get at the nectar.
Finally, while some hybrids go to seed, others do not. If you want to feed the birds, just make sure you are choosing a cultivar that will produce seeds.
Where Do Coneflowers Grow?
If you live in North America, these are native flowers. Indeed, Echinacea originates in the eastern part of the US. Native coneflowers were used as traditional remedies by indigenous peoples, which is why a lot of people today continue to use Echinacea-based products when they have cold symptoms.
Outside of North America, coneflowers are now popular to grow in locations in Europe and Australia as well.
When Do Coneflowers Bloom?
There are two ways you can start coneflowers:
- From seeds
- From bedding plants
If you purchase coneflowers as bedding plants to transplant into your own garden beds, they may already be beginning to blossom when you bring them home from the store.
But if you plant coneflower seeds instead, you will need to be very patient as it can take several years before the plants even produce flowers.
How Long Do Coneflowers Bloom?
What is the bloom season for coneflowers? The bloom period may begin as early as June. Coneflowers bloom throughout summer, even extending into fall. Typically, bloom times end in October.
When to Plant Coneflowers
The timing for planting coneflowers depends on whether you purchased bedding plants or seeds.
If you bought bedding plants, you can plant them in spring, or around the start of summer.
What if you bought seeds? You can get those started outside if the soil temperature is 65 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. Otherwise, you will want to start them indoors.
How to Plant Coneflowers
Here is how to plant a coneflower that was previously growing in a pot:
1. Make a hole in the ground equal to twice the diameter of the pot the coneflower has been living in.
2. Put the plant in the hole. You can loosen up the roots a bit if they are really cramped. Make sure you are very careful if you do this.
3. Mix some compost into your soil.
4. Cover the root ball with the soil and compost you have mixed together.
5. Water the plant.
If you are planting multiple coneflowers, you should give each of them 1-3 feet of space. The larger coneflower plants need more room than the dwarf varieties.
Here is how to plant coneflowers from seeds you start indoors:
1. Figure out the date you want to plant your coneflowers outdoors. 8-10 weeks prior to that date, you can start your seeds indoors.
2. Plant your seeds in starter pots. Put around a quarter inch of seed starting mix on top of them.
3. Put the seedlings where they will stay warm enough; the temperature of the soil should be between 65 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Moreover, it should stay moist.
4. Around 10-20 days later, you should start seeing the seedlings growing.
5. You should now transfer the pot to a window so that your seedlings can get the sunlight they need. If that is not an option, you can use a fluorescent lamp instead. If using a lamp, run it for 16 hours every day and switch it off at night. The lamp should never be closer to the seedlings than 3-4 inches.
6. Around 3-4 weeks into their growth, give your seedlings a starter solution.
7. Sometimes, you might need to move your seedlings to larger pots as they get bigger. Otherwise, they could become root-bound.
8. Spend about a week hardening your seedlings before you transplant them outdoors. That means you need to take them outside for longer and longer periods of time each day, and bring them in at night. The last couple of days, you can leave them out day and night. Protect them from the harsh elements if necessary.
9. Once your seedlings are acclimated to life outdoors, you can plant them in your garden beds.
Ideal Growing Conditions for Coneflowers
Now that you know how to plant coneflowers, let’s talk about the ideal growing conditions. That way, you can figure out where to put them in your garden.
How Much Sun Do Coneflowers Need?
Coneflowers do best with 6-8 hours of sun or more every day. Most of the time, they will thrive best in full sun, but partial sun might be a good fit for a particularly hot and dry location.
The fact that they do well in the sun but can also handle a bit of shade makes them a versatile planting option suitable for many gardens.
What Type of Soil is Right for Coneflowers?
The ideal soil for coneflowers is loamy, but other soil types are okay as well. It should be well-drained so it won’t turn to mud. Avoid standing water. The most suitable pH range is 6.5 to 7.0. Note that yellow, orange, and red coneflower varieties can be pickier than purple or white cultivars.
How Much Water Do Coneflowers Need?
As already mentioned, you should water plants immediately after you plant them. But what about additional watering?
Regular watering is necessary during the period where your plant is establishing. But you should only need to water once or twice each week.
After coneflowers are established, they need almost no maintenance. You might need to water them now and again if it is particularly arid, but they tolerate drought conditions exceptionally well. So, in many cases, it is not necessary to water them at all.
If you do have to water them, it is important to pour the water directly into the soil, not over top of the leaves. When the leaves get wet, mold becomes more likely.
How to Care for Coneflowers
We have now talked about the basic requirements of coneflowers with respect to sun, soil and water. But what else do you need to know about coneflower care?
How to Fertilize Coneflowers
Aside from mixing in some compost when you plant your coneflowers, most gardeners do not recommend that you fertilize them.
How to Mulch Coneflowers
Mulching coneflowers is helpful for a couple of reasons. Firstly, it helps the soil to retain moisture. Secondly, it helps keep weeds from trying to hog your coneflowers’ space.
It is fast and easy to mulch coneflowers. You just need to add a little bit of compost, and follow that up with a couple inches of mulch.
How to Stake Coneflowers
For the most part, it is unnecessary to stake coneflowers. The stems of these plants are pretty sturdy, which is one of the reasons they are great for a wide range of weather conditions.
But sometimes coneflowers end up being flimsier than expected, and might need to be propped up.
All you need to do is get a metal or wood stake, drive it into the ground, and then tie the stem of the droopy coneflower plant to it using some string or twine.
There is no need to do this at the time you plant. Again, typically you won’t end up needing to do it at all. So, wait and see if it is necessary.
How to Prune Coneflowers
Deadheading coneflowers is wise, but aside from that, it is completely up to you whether or not you want to prune them partway through the season by cutting them back.
The main benefit of doing this is that it can coax your plants into blossoming again later in the growing season.
If you decide to do it, you just need to cut the stems about halfway down.
When to Cut Back Coneflowers
When is the appropriate time to cut back your coneflowers as discussed above? Aim for early summer.
How to Deadhead Coneflowers
The easiest way to encourage your plants to produce more flowers and extend the bloom season is to deadhead them.
When you deadhead flowers, you remove the spent blossoms.
With other plants, it is often possible to do this entirely by hand. You just pinch off each spent bloom.
But you can’t do that with coneflowers because the stems aren’t thin enough. So, you will have to use pruning shears.
You might not want to deadhead every blossom, however. Why? Because you want some of them to go to seed. Once they do, they will attract chickadees, goldfinches, and other birds.
Indeed, later in the season, you might want to stop deadheading altogether. By that point, you are nearing the end of the bloom period anyway, and the birds are going to need more food to get through the cold autumn and winter months.
You can cut away the dead stalks if you wish, but you might want to leave them for the birds to enjoy through the winter season, trimming them back closer to the start of the next growing season.
Recommended Companion Plants for Coneflowers
What is good to plant with coneflower? Here are some Echinacea companion planting options to think about:
Catnip: If you are looking for a plant that will help discourage Japanese beetles from infesting your coneflowers, consider planting them with some catnip. If you have a feline pal, as a bonus, you’ll have your kitty’s favorite treat ready to go!
Bee balm: Available in shades of red, purple, pink and white, bee balm is a lovely visual accompaniment to coneflowers. Moreover, it is popular with butterflies and hummingbirds, just like coneflowers. So, planting them near each other may help to increase the draw of your garden to pollinators.
Cardinal flower: This bright red flower is another favorite of hummingbirds, and an ideal option for planting next to your coneflowers.
Tickseed: Are you planting coneflowers in part for the birds? Then consider a companion plant like tickseed which also includes tasty seeds for birds to enjoy. The small yellow flowers can complement yellow coneflowers or contrast with purple ones.
The ideas above should be enough to get you started, but there are plenty of other possibilities to explore!
Frequently Asked Questions About Growing Coneflowers
Let’s go ahead and answer some frequently asked questions about coneflowers to wrap up this guide.
Q: How tall do coneflowers get?
A: The majority of coneflowers reach a maximum height between 2 and 4 feet tall.
Q: What eats coneflowers?
A: Leaf miners, vine weevils, and Japanese beetles all can infest coneflowers.
Q: Can coneflowers get diseases?
A: Coneflowers may develop gray mold, bacterial spots, or powdery mildew. You can reduce the chances of mold or mildew by preventing your coneflowers from getting too wet. Give them sufficient air circulation in a humid climate, and avoid planting them where standing water tends to accumulate.
Q: What is best to plant with coneflowers?
A: There are many great companion plants for coneflowers. Some of these include cardinal flower, bee balm, and tickseed.
Q: Are coneflowers annual or perennial?
A: Coneflowers are perennial plants. That means you can look forward to them blooming year after year once they are established.
Q: Are coneflowers deer-resistant?
A: Yes, for the most part. Deer do not like their prickly stems, and thus tend to avoid them. That may make coneflowers good companion plants for other plants you are trying to protect.
Q: Can I use my Echinacea to help me fight the common cold?
A: Are these beautiful blossoms just for show in your garden, or can you use them medicinally? Results on treating the common cold with this herb are mixed. So, the jury is still out.
Some people also think that Echinacea can be used as a cancer treatment, but that use is not backed by research at all at this juncture.
The best reason to grow Echinacea is just to enhance your yard.
Where to Buy Coneflowers
Coneflowers are colorful, fragrant flowers that are easy to plant and grow. So, even if you are a beginner, they are an excellent choice for beautifying your garden while attracting butterflies and birds.
Where can you purchase coneflower plants and seeds? Either visit your local garden center, or shop for coneflowers online, where you will find an even wider selection. Click the link below to shop coneflower cultivars now.
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