i heard and tried (the paper towel method of starting seeds), and it worked like magic.i use it for the seeds that i have problems with including purple coneflowers and gaillardia.cuts down on germination time.i then take the sprouted seeds and then put them in pots. let me know how you make out.

I really don't think it's a coneflower! Those thorny stems are similar to raspberry, but the leaves look too long. I don't know if all cones are like mine, but the leaf edges on mine are not serrated like that at all. No thorny stems, either. Sad if your coneflowers are gone! Hopefully, they're still under there, trying to grow despite this new plant taking over. If this is something to rip out, be careful to look for the coneflower leaves coming up and don't damage the coneflowers in the process of removing these.

I have 3 big beds with tons of purple coneflowers and started noticing this problem a year or two ago with many of my coneflower plants (I don't have any of the newer hybrids). I used to chalk it up to some weird mutation, as I never noticed a pest problem or discoloration/blight problem. I usually just deadhead the cones with no petals and hope for the best. I have noticed this year that on some of my coneflowers the first bloom or two were 'normal' looking but then the subsequent blooms (after deadheading the spent ones) were lone cones. Last year was worse than this year, however. I wouldn't worry too much about your other plants being affected. I have many different plants in the same beds with the affected coneflowers and they have never been bothered. Also, I should probably tell you I rarely disinfect my pruners (I know it's bad, but I'm lazy) and the vast majority of my plants were planted from seeds of one or two store-bought plants about 7 years ago. I would love to figure this out!

This is exactly what I have posted w/ album (I forgot to chk privacy box) just this AM. So it is a form of virus ~ geez what's going on w/ plants. I too thought as aachenelf ~ but called it forest on top of DD in green ~ *expectacular* indeed! I'm not terribly upset but miss my P-Cone Faeries this year! I can believe about plant hoppers carrying the virus we are going thru another year of Jap Beetle-plague!!! Thanks for the Aster Yellows link, aachenelf!!!