If you don’t already grow purple coneflowers in your garden, you’ve most likely seen this purplish-pink, daisy-like flower adding a pop of color in someone else’s yard. They’re a great choice if you’re looking for an easy-to-grow, native perennial.
Coneflowers are hardy in USDA Hardiness Zones 4 – 9. Some varieties are hardy to Zone 3. Be sure to check the tag on the variety you choose to confirm its hardiness and preferred growing conditions.
Historically, coneflowers were used as an herbal remedy by Native Americans and, later, European settlers. Its uses included pain relief, treatment of colds and sore throats, dressing wounds and treating infections.
Today, coneflower cultivars are available in a variety of colors. In addition to the familiar pink, gardeners’ choices include white, yellow and shades of red and orange, as well as variations in flower form.
Consider using coneflowers as a focal point in a naturalized or wildflower garden. They also perform well in borders or cottage gardens. Wherever you use them, coneflowers will attract pollinators, including bees, butterflies and hummingbirds, to your garden.
Coneflowers can grow between two and four feet high and one to two feet wide. They bloom best in full sun. They’ll grow in partial shade as well, though lower light levels will result in fewer flowers. Coneflowers bloom throughout summer and make long-lasting cut flowers.
As winter approaches, coneflowers die back to the ground and go dormant, with new growth emerging in spring. You can deadhead spent flowers and cut back old growth at the end of the growing season or put off tidying up your coneflower bed until spring. If you wait, birds and other wildlife can feed on the dried seed heads, and the upright stems can provide a nesting spot for native bees.
Coneflowers will self-seed. If you start seeds on your own, keep in mind that a period of cold, moist stratification aids in germination. If you sow seeds outdoors in autumn, you’ll see new plantlets emerge in spring.
Mature coneflowers can be propagated by root division in early spring or late autumn. In spring, while the plant is still dormant, dig up the clump of fibrous roots and divide, being sure to leave several inches of roots in each section. Replant or pot immediately and water well.
If dividing in autumn, wait until the plant stops flowering and has begun to go dormant. Allow sufficient time before the ground freezes for the roots to adjust after replanting.
Plant coneflowers in well-draining, loamy soil, although they are adaptable to a variety of conditions. When in doubt, a soil test can tell you what, if any, fertilizers or amendments will be beneficial. For more information on soil testing, see https://go.uvm.edu/soiltest.
Coneflowers are a low maintenance addition to the garden and are relatively pest and disease resistant. The solution to a problem such as drooping leaves might be as simple as supplemental watering during excessive summer heat.
While deer will likely bypass coneflowers, rabbits, chipmunks and groundhogs may take a nibble. Watch for aphids and deal with them with a strong spray from the hose. Knock Japanese beetles into a bucket of soapy water.
Other problems may include diseases such as powdery mildew, Fusarium wilt or aster yellows. If you have questions about growing coneflowers or find yourself trying to identify a pest or disease, contact your local Master Gardeners.
by Deborah J. Benoit, UVM Extension Master Gardener
Featured photo: Coneflowers are adaptable to a variety of growing conditions although they prefer well-draining, loamy soil and full sun. Photo by Deborah J. Benoit
