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Ever heard of 'Pine Cone Flower'?

15 years ago

I received a packet labeled "Pine Cone flower" in a round robin exchange. Tried googling it but just comes up trees. I just opened the coin envelope and the seeds look like echinacea (which would certainly fit with the "cone" part!) Any clues about which kind of echinacea it might be?

Thanks,

Nancy

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Comments (8)

donn_
15 years ago
It's not Echinacea, it's actually Ginger...Zingiber zerumbet, AKA Shampoo Ginger or Pinecone Flower.
just1morehosta
15 years ago
OOOOOOOOOOOOhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh:

Sounds lovely.
Carol
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northforker
Original Author
15 years ago
Pinecone flower ( Zingiber zerumbet) DOES look lovely Donn, but after seeing this tropical looking plant on line, I just can't seem to "match" it in my mind with these coneflower looking seeds! They look almost exactly like my "white swan" seeds. Don't suppose anyone can find a pic of those Zingiber seeds to solve this mystery???
rosepedal
15 years ago
Nancy I am sorry I cant help. That is a issue there are so many names for plants across the unied states. Some say wash others say wrash. lol Sometimes not knowing unnamed are the best flowers...Smile Barb
trudi_d
15 years ago
It could perennial yellow cornflower--Centaurea macrocephala. It has several common names incuding Yellow Hard Head and Basket Flower. It's a fascinating plant.
{{gwi:454113}}

Here is a link that might be useful: Centaurea Macrocephala
vera_eastern_wa
15 years ago
....maybe the trader meant to say "pink" coneflower?
dem_pa
15 years ago
I think trudi_d is right. The seeds are similar to coneflower seeds. The bottom of the flower is shaped like a pinecone. Globe centaurea, Bighead knapweed, centaurea macrocephala. Perennial, 3'to4'. I winter sowed this plant. It bloomed the second year.

{{gwi:454114}}

Merry Christmas.
{{gwi:452208}}

Don (dem_pa)
northforker
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks to all of you for trying to help. The seed does not have that hard shiny coat like a centeaurea has, but is instead white and sort of papery with definite "angles" on the bullet shape - like an coneflower seed. I think Vera is probably right...the trader probably meant to write "pink" and wrote "Pine" instead.

I am going to WS them and we'll see!!!

Thanks again!
Nancy

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