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How to Grow Coneflowers: The Complete Echinacea Flower Guide

Photo Credit
Molly Shannon/Shutterstock
Botanical Name
Echinacea spp.
Plant Type
Flower
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Soil pH
Varies
Bloom Time
Summer
Fall
Flower Color
Green
Orange
Pink
Purple
Red
White
Yellow
Hardiness Zone
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Special Features
Attracts Bees
Attracts Butterflies
Attracts Pollinators
Attracts Songbirds

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Planting, Growing, and Caring for Coneflowers

Catherine Boeckmann

Coneflowers, also known as echinacea, are one of America鈥檚 native wildflowers, beloved by butterflies, bees, and songbirds. Learn more about growing coneflower care鈥攆rom planting to pests to deadheading.

About Perennial Coneflowers

Echinacea are tough perennials in the daisy family (Asteraceae) and hardy in Zones 3 to 9. They are native to the eastern and central United States, blooming in mid-summer and continue to flower sporadically until frost. 

The genus is named after the Greek word for hedgehog, echinos, because of its cone-like center, which attracts butterflies and bees. Leave the seed heads after bloom, and you鈥檒l also attract songbirds such as goldfinches!  

goldfinch on a coneflower
鈥淕oldfinches will spend a very long time on flower seed heads. Great way to start the day鈥 鈥揇iana

Of course, this plant is good for humans, too, with many medicinal properties; today, it鈥檚 especially popular as an herbal tea to strengthen the immune system. 

Do Coneflowers Spread?

This is not an aggressive plant, but it will naturally self-seed and spread, which you can encourage if you wait to cut back until late winter (or prohibit self-seeding if you deadhead the flowers right after they fade). Hybrids will not self-sow; most are sterile (they do not produce viable seeds). Hybrids aren鈥檛 of much interest to birds, either.

The Purple Coneflower

The purple coneflower (E. purpurea) is the most common and readily available. The flowers measure 2 to 4 inches in diameter and have a mounded, brown, central cone of disk flowers surrounded by long light purple rays that droop down the center cone. Up to nine naturally occurring echinacea can also be found in purple shades or yellow (E. paradoxa). They have dark green lower leaves 4 to 8 inches long.

Coneflowers are striking when planted in masses, especially as a mix of various colors. They are trouble-free once established in a traditional garden or wildflower meadow. They are commonly seen in perennial flower gardens.

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Planting

Coneflowers prefer full sun and well-draining soil; they are drought-tolerant. Loosen the soil to a depth of 12 to 15 inches and mix in compost or aged manure. (These plants will tolerate poor soil, but results may vary.)

When to Plant Coneflowers

  • If buying plants from a nursery (most common), plant coneflowers when small, with blooms on the way, in spring or early summer.
  • Seeds can be started indoors 8 to 10 weeks before the last spring frost or outdoors when the soil has warmed to at least 65掳F/18掳C. (Seed-sown plants are not likely to bloom for 2 to 3 years.)

How to Plant Coneflowers

  • Dig a hole about twice the pot’s diameter. Set the plant so that the root ball is level with the soil surface. 
  • Fill in to the top of the root ball. 
  • Space plants 1 to 3 feet apart, depending on size at maturity.
  • Water thoroughly.
  • Spread thin layers of compost, then mulch, on the soil surface to help keep plants moist and prevent weeds.

Check out our video to learn more about growing coneflowers:

Growing

  • Coneflowers are drought tolerant, but new plants need water occasionally and more often if the spring season is especially dry. 
  • Native in-ground coneflowers seldom need fertilizer.
  • To delay blooming for fall enjoyment (and compact growth), cut back stems 1 foot when plants come into bloom. For staggered bloom heights and times, cut only a few stems.
  • Beneficial, wasplike soldier beetles may appear in August. They feed on insect eggs and larvae and pollinate plants. Do not harm them. Learn more about insects that help out around the garden.
  • In late fall, lightly spread mulch in colder regions.
  • Cut the stems back to soil level when they wither or after frost.
  • Divide or transplant coneflowers in spring or fall.

Deadheading Coneflowers

Should you deadhead coneflowers? There are pros and cons. Deadheading right after a flower fades prolongs blooming and prevents reseeding. However, if you can wait until late winter, your birds鈥攅specially goldfinch 鈥 will enjoy those seedheads. Plus, coneflowers self-seed prolifically, so where you had only one, you鈥檒l have multiple places in the garden with lovely blooms that attract butterflies and bees.

How to deadhead coneflowers? After the flowers fade, cut back stems to a leaf near a new flower bud or a set of leaves. Use sharp, sterilized shears as coneflowers are too thick to snap back the spent flower head with your fingers.

purple and orange Coneflowers
Coneflowers are a gorgeous addition to your landscape!

Growing Coneflowers in Pots

We tend to grow coneflowers in the ground as perennial plants, but you can certainly grow them in pots if the containers are deep enough for the plant鈥檚 taproot. 

  • Use 2- or 3-gallon (or larger) pots with drainage holes. Spread crushed gravel in the bottom of the pots for drainage.
  • Fill the pot halfway with the potting mix. Tamp down. Plant the root ball an inch below the rim of the container, spreading out the roots. Add soil slowly until it is even with the top of the root ball, tamping down lightly. Water deeply.
  • Keep pots in partial shade for 2 to 3 days, then place in full morning sun and partial afternoon shade.
  • Always water deeply at the soil level, and the soil is dry to the touch. Water on leaves can cause fungal disease.
  • Fertilize every couple of weeks with a water-soluble 10-10-10 product.
  • Deadhead just below the base of the flower for continued bloom.
  • To overwinter, prune plants to soil level when plant growth slows in fall.
  • Move to a cool (40潞 to 50潞F) area, with low to moderate indirect light.
  • Check the soil every couple of weeks and water lightly when the top 3 inches are dry. 
  • When new growth appears in spring, move to a brighter, warmer (60潞 to 70潞F) area. Moving the plant helps to prepare it for living outdoors in the spring and summer. 
  • Do not water leaves from above, as this can encourage fungal disease on leaves. Instead, water at the soil level. Use an insecticidal soap or neem oil solution spray if you see any aphids or pests.
  • Every 3 to 4 years, in spring, after new growth has started, divide and repot echinacea plants.

Types

These are native, unless noted 鈥

  • 鈥楻obert Bloom鈥 (Echinacea purpurea): red-purple petals; prominent, dark orange centers 
  • 鈥楩inale White鈥 (E. purpurea): creamy-white petals; greenish-brown centers
  • Narrow-leaf coneflower (E. augustifolia): similar to E. purpurea
  • Pale purple coneflower (E. pallida); native to Ontario
  • Sanguine purple coneflower (E. sanguinea): red-purple petals with streaks (sanguinea, Latin for 鈥渂lood鈥 refers to streaks in petals; native to southern states
  • Smooth purple coneflower (E. laevigata): narrow, drooping, pale-pink petals; endangered
  • Tennessee coneflower (E. tennesseensis): upturned mauve petals; greenish-pink centers
  • Topeka purple coneflower (E. atrorubens): deep pink short petals; rare
  • Wavy leaf coneflower (E. simulata): yellow pollen distinguishes it from E. pallida (white pollen)
  • Yellow coneflower (E. paradoxa), aka Ozark coneflower: yellow petals
  • 鈥楥濒别辞辫补迟谤补鈥 (E. hybrid): soft yellow petals; copper-green centers

Read about our favorite coneflower varieties here!

Coneflower with bee
Bees love coneflowers!

Harvesting

  • Cut flowers for arrangements when petals are expanding. Vase life is 5 to 7 days.
  • Leave some of the spent blooms so that birds can eat the seed through the fall and winter.
  • Harvest some flowers to dry for herbal teas.
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Wit and Wisdom

  • Coneflowers鈥 genus name echinacea comes from the Latin name for hedgehog, echinus, referring to the often prickly lower stem of the plant, a feature which deters deer.
  • Plains Native Americans used purple coneflower (E. purpurea) as their primary medicine; they steeped roots as a remedy for colds, coughs, and infections.

Pests/Diseases

Coneflowers are not too bothered by disease or pests but they do have some problems:

  • Missing or distorted petals? If your coneflowers have a raised cone but lack petals, you probably have Eriophyid mites which suck nutrients from the flowers. Cut back infected plants in the fall and destroy infected plant parts (do not put in compost).
  • Greening of petals? Aster Yellows is transmitted by leafhoppers feed on the plant. In severe cases, the entire flower head is green. The plant will wilt and die. Remove and destroy infected plants.
  • White dusting on plant? Powdery mildew is generally the result of overcrowding; the plants need more air circulation. Learn more about controlling powdery mildew.
  • Holes in leaves? Yep, it’s our friend the Japanese Beetle; these beetles don’t often attack coneflowers but if you have roses nearby, who knows? Learn more about controlling Japanese beetle.
  • Leaves eaten down the ground? Deer don’t find coneflowers palatable, however, rabbits will chew down the foliage. Hot pepper wax sprays can make leaves less appealing.
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About The Author

Catherine Boeckmann

Catherine Boeckmann loves nature, stargazing, and gardening so it鈥檚 not surprising that she and The Old Farmer鈥檚 蜜桃恋人 found each other. She leads digital content for the 蜜桃恋人 website, and is also a certified master gardener in the state of Indiana. Read More from Catherine Boeckmann
 

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Comments

Sorry to hear about your coneflowers. They are such beautiful flowers, especially those prickly discs.

There is one pest, the Coneflower Rosette Mite, that are microscopic (very difficult to see without magnification) and live within the flower buds and suck nutrients from the base of the flowers. They can cause stunted and distorted flower parts, as well as green to reddish-green elongated rosette-like tufts that sprout from the tops or sides of the cones.

It also could be a sign of some sort of fungal disease or rot that is stemming from an issue with the roots.

Unfortunately, it is probably best to remove the infected flowers and put them in the trash鈥攄o not compost. In the fall, perform your annual cleanup maintenance and, if possible, pull up one of the flowers to see if there is any issue underground.

Joan (not verified)

1 year 4 months ago

A good article. There are many lovely colours available. However, aphids DO attack cone flowers. I have had to deal with a heavy infestation of red aphids on my yellow coneflowers this year. Never had them before and after running my fingers up the stems (so gross even with gloves on) and giving them a mild soapy bath, they finally subsided. It did take a few days of repeated treatments to be rid of them.

There are a few pests that will attack coneflowers with aphids being one of them. In large numbers, they can greatly affect the vitality of your plants. Using a soapy water solution is the best way to address an aphids issue. It can take a few treatments, but in the end it will help get rid of your infestation. 

ALAYNA (not verified)

1 year 4 months ago

CAN SOMEONE PLEASE SHOW ME A PIC OF THE CONEFLOWER WHEN IT FIRST SPROUTS. I DON'T WANT TO PULL THE WRONG WEED. THANK YOU

Jamet (not verified)

3 years 1 month ago

I have purchased Cheyenne Spirit Coneflowers from QVC 3 times.Mine are covered with flowers. On 1 plant alone I can count 17 beautiful orange flowers. I don鈥檛 ever have issues with mine. I am saving my seeds to plant in my pasture.Mine are Purple,yellow,red and salmon. I wish I could send pictures of them.On QVC I order from Cottage Farms they guarantee their flowers for a year.

Joy (not verified)

3 years 4 months ago

I planted some Cherokee Spirit Coneflowers in May. They looked great, but shortly after rabbits ate most of the leaves. One is down to nubs. They don't seem to be growing any new stalks or very many leaves. Will they recover, or do I just need to replant?

The coneflower will come back I make a cages out of that chicken wire it鈥檚 green little squares I form a circle once they get so big and hey don鈥檛 bother them anymore