When I dead head mine I just cut about the middle of the flower stalk.But if there is by chance another flower on the same stalk then I cut before the above the new flower if that makes sense. But I am leaving my coneflowers undead headed since so many of the birds love the seeds.

Paula

Thanks Paula! I haven't dead headed them any yet and I don't think they have put up any new stems or if they are even suppose to put up any new stems during the year. Does this make any sense?? It seems like they stay looking good for sooooo long and then they start turning brown and I wasn't sure what to do with the stem once the flower turned brown. I dead headed some daisies I bought hoping they might put up new stems too but they are just sitting there and I didn't want to make the same mistake with my coneflowers. I would rather leave the spent blooms for the birds if they aren't going to put out any new stems. Thanks a bunch, Judy

I deadhead some of mine by making bouquets! :)

The rest of them, I usually just leave for the birds and winter interest, etc. However, I had soooooo many volunteers this year that I may end up deadheading after all.

I would do what Paula does - cut down the stalk unless there are more buds. Then I would just cut down to above the new bud.

:)
Dee

I plan to deadheadmost most of mine for the same reason Dee did. I didn't get a chance to do any deadheading last year and I now have lots (and lots and lots) of echinaceas to give away!

I usually deadhead to right above a leaf. It looks neater imo.

I deadhead mine the same way I deadhead most of my perennials that bloom most of the summer: cut the blooms off either to the leaf, or to a new bud, and continue to deadhead until it gets later in the summer and the blooms start to taper off. Once I think I'm on the last flush of blooms for the summer/fall, I leave the seed heads on and allow them to develop. I like to have a little bit of self-seeding going on, in case I need a few, and feed for the birds, etc.

Thanks everyone. I will deadhead to tidy up the bush a little and leave the rest for the birds for later. Thanks for your help. Judy

I planted my first coneflowers this year. They've been great but now most of the blooms are ending. Here's my dumb question for the day. It looks to me like the new flower buds look similar to the old flower heads once the petals fall off. I want to deadhead to prolong the bloom time, but I can't tell the difference!! I know, stupid question! I'm not even sure that they will produce more flowers if deadheaded.

The one thing I did notice is that they might feel different -- are the new buds soft where the spent flowerheads are hard?

Last question, if I let it go to seed at the end of the season, can it produce new seedlings through mulch? I have the bed heavily mulched to retain the drip irrigation in our 90+ degree temps. I'd like to have more coneflowers next year. Should I consider raking the mulch away once the seedheads set? Any advice for my climate would be appreciated. We're hot and dry all summer and won't get any natural rain until November.

Debbie

Hi - Like Paula & Dee - I leave cones for the birds in Winter, as well & to me, so pretty in the snow with the birds looking like flowers busy pecking the seeds!!! By Spring they are practically devoured ... & to think that I have several bird feeders I maintain as well! Â;)

Debbie - These are learning forums that I found truly, generously helpful ... No ??? are stupid ... many of us, are forever newbies, so ask away!!! Someone in your zone, will soon chime in w/ better responses!

Have a great garden day!!!

but HOW do i deahead

deadhead i mean just leave them alone?

You cut the flower off. Cut off the dead flower heads.

Another reason to deadhead purple coneflowers might be to minimize potential infestation from coneflower rosette mite, perhaps especially with plants purchased the same year from nurseries.

Wow, usually you hear people saying the reverse, with all the talk of pollinators, etc. This is not an issue we have here...sadly, many butterflies seem to have left the building. How we used to take them for granted as kids growing up; now we stop in awe if we see one float by!

I've been collecting Echinaceas for about four years and have many many of the new colorful ones. This is the first year I've seen seedlings and I must have fifty or more seedlings growing up almost everywhere in the perennial bed.. Must be the seeds liked our winter rains this year. Anyway, I'm not a deadheader, preferring to leave the dried seed heads for winter interest and the birds, but I might have to rethink that plan because I can't bring myself to weed the seedlings out. I guess I'm hoping that I'll see an unusual flower.

I just read if you deadhead after summer bloom that they will bloom again in the fall. Has anyone tried this?

In general it's a no, but it's possible. Also, you should start a new topic instead of attaching to an existing if you have a question.