Whats wrong with my coneflowers?

rollie

18 years ago

It seem my conflowers heads start out perfectly,

And then when they start to mature, they morph into a worthless head.

Heres a good seed head, and one that is not.

Could it have anything to do with this bug, as it seems that this type burrows down into the head alot.

Any ideas.

I'm new at this.

That whold bed of coneflowers was started from last years seeds.

Theres a lot of bees and butterflies that are working the flowers over. but that one green bug, burrows into the head.

Here is the bed of flowers, you can see some nice heads, and some starting to morph. You can also see the green bugs on a few flowers.{{gwi:1067080}}

Thanks.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (7)

Iris GW
18 years ago
It might be Aster Yellows disease. It affects coneflowers. The solution is to pull out and destroy the affected plants.
fatamorgana2121
18 years ago
I have both bugs and finches that eat the seeds out of my coneflowers. It's almost impossible for me to save any seed from them. But even so, the bug chewed and finch ravaged seed heads look nothing like what you have there. I don't think it's a bug problem you have.

FataMorgana
Related Discussions
Sundown Echinacea (An Investigative Report!)
Q
Comments (92)
G'Morning - Got Ech DD ... I'm truly excited she looks so lovely ... the first thought I had was a pic of my dau, tons of years ago, as a Jr-bride's maid, at a wedding! This DD had a crown, so very full w/o covering her entire cone my grand-dau called her, 'Princess' ... several buds in stages should be coming soon!!! ;) I think this $10 - 1gal beautiful lady was a great buy, yes? Mount Hood - would be wonderful as a combo ... Bride & B'Maid, LOL!!! The Nursery had 'K Mophead', I thought about for combo, but I have 9 H paniculatas, all in their white/creamy white show, right now, that I decided against white. They have several shades of yellows & oranges, but as ignorant as I am abt Ech, with a bad experience on Big Sky, I'll wait a while just until concerns (valid or not) clears ... I have 2 huge clumps of Blk E Susies & Coreopsis to satisfy my 'yellow fever' LOL ... too bad 'Lemon Drops' are done. 'Still looking for something complement/separate this Ech DD from my P Cone group ... any thoughts? I appreciate all the edu' from this group!!! ;) TIA! ;) ... Have a great garden day ... this is the last of our unseasonably cool July ... we're headed to real Summer as we know it!!!
...See More
What animal would shred my coneflower blossoms??
Q
Comments (8)
Well, since I live very close the lake and the metropark system, I am afraid that I will have to try some of these products and hope for the best. I have never had to worry about critters on such as consistent basis as I do in this yard. I grew accustomed to deer pruning my roses for me in the winter, but that was the worst I really dealt with in my previous home. My new yard is fenced completely, but smaller animals can get in on the side that is a picket fence and thanks to my SIL's dogs, there are a couple holes underneat the privacy fence for animals to creep under. (grrr!) I am leaving the motion light on to see if that helps, and I sprinked cayenne around the gardens today, so I will keep my fingers crossed for tonight.
...See More
What cats are eating my Purple Coneflower?
Q
Comments (11)
Thank you for the info., Runmede. I've brought a few cats indoors and they are eating great. Their behavior is interesting. Each time I go back to the plant for more leaves, the second I touch a leaf every cat on the plant turns loose and falls to the ground. I've never experienced this with swallowtail or monarch cats. Sure, they will drop off if disturbed enough, but I wonder why they don't drop off at the slightest disturbance. Seems like more of them would survive. Dana
...See More
what's wrong with my purple coneflowers?
Q
Comments (7)
we've had the wettest spring and summer in decades in central north carolina, and a couple of my cones, as well as a bunch of rudbeckias, have quickly browned, shriveled, and died away. I've pulled a couple of affected plants and noticed the roots were mushy and stunted. One of my garden books lists both echinacea and rudbeckia as plants that are sensitive to fungal root rot in areas of high moisture and poor drainage (which is what I've got this year). Same thing has happened to the thyme in my herb garden. In general, the rot seems very hit-or-miss -- I have several of each of these plants that are doing just fine.
...See More
rollie
Original Author
18 years ago
Everything I've read, leads to aster yellow.

This is a brand new planting from saved seeds on new soil. I had some that looked that way last year, I just thought maybe they were old plants or something like that.

I pulled the plants in the picture and took them to a local nursery today and they said it was a fungus and there was alot of that around this locale this year. I'm not very confident of this information and will take them to another place that specializes.

I sure hate to think about killing all the affected plants. Ive hand weeded this patch about 20 times this year to get it established.
davidl_ny5
18 years ago
Looks like aster yellows (phyto....) to me, except the link below says plants will show chlorosis. The leaf hoppers spread it, apparently. Compare the pictures in the link. Looks like that weird seed head. If you grew that stand in a year, I'd get rid of the plants, but save the good seed. Take a year off and maybe plant w/ a cover crop (not aster-related). Then put new plants in. And maybe spray to keep the leaf-hoppers off. Just a guess, but might work.

Really nice looking plants you've got, but the disease is incurable and apparently will warp all the flowers.

Good luck.

Here is a link that might be useful: Aster yellows
rollie
Original Author
18 years ago
David,

Sorry, just getting back to this post.

I had an expert come out and look, and didnt think it was asters.

The leafage of the plant is fine and show no signs of chlorosis.

I have been pulling the affected plants.

How should I treat for leafhoppers, without hurting the butterflies and bumblebees that are using the patch?

Treat before blooms next year before it becomes attractive?
wildtek
18 years ago
I'd go with aster yellows. Deformity is often caused by viruses. My first thought when I saw the photo was virus. The web says this is a virus. This is good to know. Sorry, I gained something from your misfortune.

Here is a link that might be useful: Iowa State University
man_oh_man
18 years ago
definitely aster yellow, it affects asters and coneflowers. you better get em out before the spread to others.

Related Stories

GARDENING GUIDES What's Wrong With My Plant? Leaves Often Hold the Clues

By Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting

Learn how to identify common plant ailments by reading their leaves

Full Story

FLOWERS Get Coneflower Blooms All Summer Long

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Plant these 5 native species to bring beauty to the garden — and pollen to the insects — from June through August

Full Story

GARDENING FOR BUTTERFLIES Great Design Plant: Giant Coneflower, a True Exclamation Point

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Watch as towering stalks topped by yellow blossoms become a beacon for birds and insects in the midsummer garden

Full Story

REMODELING GUIDES Why Marble Might Be Wrong for Your Bathroom

By By Any Design Ltd.

You love its beauty and instant high-quality appeal, but bathroom marble has its drawbacks. Here's what to know before you buy

Full Story

233

GARDENING GUIDES Houzz Call: What’s Your Favorite Backyard Beauty?

By Stacy Briscoe

The simple, honest daisy is this writer’s go-to garden flower. We want to hear which plant, flowering or otherwise, gives you special joy

Full Story

118

GARDENING GUIDES What’s in a Name? See 6 Wildflowers That Aren’t ‘Weeds’ at All

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Dispel the stereotypes of weeds and try these wildlife-supporting native wildflowers in your garden

Full Story

LIFE You Said It: ‘Every Room Should Have the Right Wrong Thing’ and More

By Becky Harris

This week on Houzz we were inspired to break out of catalog styling ruts and let our design freak flags fly

Full Story

LIFE You Said It: ‘The Wrong Sink Can Make You Hate Your Kitchen’

By Becky Harris

Design advice, inspiration and observations that struck a chord this week

Full Story

COLOR 8 Color Palettes You Can't Get Wrong

By Lisa Frederick

Can't decide on a color scheme? Choose one of these foolproof palettes for a room that feels both timeless and fresh

Full Story

KITCHEN DESIGN Bar Stools: What Style, What Finish, What Size?

By KitchenLab Interiors

How to Choose the Right Seating For Your Kitchen Island or Counter

Full Story

Whats wrong with my coneflowers?

Comments (7)

Iris GW

fatamorgana2121

Related Discussions

rollie
Original Author

davidl_ny5

rollie
Original Author

wildtek

man_oh_man

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Whats wrong with my coneflowers?

Comments (7)

Iris GW

fatamorgana2121

Related Discussions

rollieOriginal Author

davidl_ny5

rollieOriginal Author

wildtek

man_oh_man

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

rollie
Original Author

rollie
Original Author