Flowers and Plants
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Central Plains Gardening
Native Plants
For Prairie-Style Charm, Plant a Beautiful Coneflower
See why this U.S. native bloomer is once again finding a place in the perennial garden
Coneflowers (Echinacea spp.) are the classic prairie plant. These tough, low-trouble native perennials easily held their own in a variety of soils and weather conditions in the wild and just as easily made the transition to more confined garden beds and borders.
While they might have been dismissed in the past for their somewhat rough appearance — hey, they had it tough out there — cheery charm and and the rapidly increasing number of colors and sizes now available as hybrids make them a popular choice for borders and flower beds.
While they might have been dismissed in the past for their somewhat rough appearance — hey, they had it tough out there — cheery charm and and the rapidly increasing number of colors and sizes now available as hybrids make them a popular choice for borders and flower beds.
‘White Swan’ coneflower
Benefits and tolerances: Flowers attract butterflies; seed cones attract birds, especially in winter; attracts some beneficial insects such as soldier beetles; some are fragrant; tolerate all soil types; deer-resistant and fairly tolerant of heat and drought once established
Seasonal interest: Prolific bloom from midsummer to fall; interesting in a winter garden
When to plant: Spring or fall
Benefits and tolerances: Flowers attract butterflies; seed cones attract birds, especially in winter; attracts some beneficial insects such as soldier beetles; some are fragrant; tolerate all soil types; deer-resistant and fairly tolerant of heat and drought once established
Seasonal interest: Prolific bloom from midsummer to fall; interesting in a winter garden
When to plant: Spring or fall
Distinguishing traits. Colors range from the familiar purple and pink to white, orange and red. Lime green flowers are also popping up. Petals droop down from center cone. Once the petals fall, the cones add a distinctive flair to fall and winter gardens as well as decorative arrangements.
How to use it. Include coneflower in a mixed perennial bed or garden border, or plant it in a prairie or woodland garden. Coneflowers are most effective when massed or planted in swaths. They’re also effective when mixed with other prairie plants, such as black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia spp.). Coneflowers also are a good choice for cutting or drying.
Purple coneflower in a mountain garden
Planting notes. Choose a spot in full sun that receives at least 5 to 6 hours a day. Dig the planting hole as deep as the rootball and twice as wide. Amend with compost if the soil is too acidic or alkaline. Coneflowers can handle most soil types, but prefer a neutral pH of around 7. See how you can determine your soil type.
Place the top of the root ball level with the soil, add soil around the plant, firm it into place, then water thoroughly. Add compost and mulch around the plant to retain moisture and keep weeds down. Plant about 1 foot to 3 feet apart and allow plenty of room for air circulation
Planting notes. Choose a spot in full sun that receives at least 5 to 6 hours a day. Dig the planting hole as deep as the rootball and twice as wide. Amend with compost if the soil is too acidic or alkaline. Coneflowers can handle most soil types, but prefer a neutral pH of around 7. See how you can determine your soil type.
Place the top of the root ball level with the soil, add soil around the plant, firm it into place, then water thoroughly. Add compost and mulch around the plant to retain moisture and keep weeds down. Plant about 1 foot to 3 feet apart and allow plenty of room for air circulation
Pale purple coneflower (E. pallida)
Provide about 1 inch of water per week during the growing season, especially when plants are getting established.
Deadhead or pick flowers for vases to keep blooms coming. Coneflowers bloom from the top of the stem down, which makes flowers easier to pick without affecting the look of the plant in the garden. Don’t feed — they’re happier without fertilizer.
Provide about 1 inch of water per week during the growing season, especially when plants are getting established.
Deadhead or pick flowers for vases to keep blooms coming. Coneflowers bloom from the top of the stem down, which makes flowers easier to pick without affecting the look of the plant in the garden. Don’t feed — they’re happier without fertilizer.
‘White Swan’ coneflower in mixed garden bed
After coneflowers finish blooming, cut them back or leave the flower stems in place for winter interest and for birds to munch on the seeds
Coneflowers don’t like being moved, but if they become crowded after three of four years, divide them in spring or fall. Leave plenty of soil around the root balls when transplanting.
After coneflowers finish blooming, cut them back or leave the flower stems in place for winter interest and for birds to munch on the seeds
Coneflowers don’t like being moved, but if they become crowded after three of four years, divide them in spring or fall. Leave plenty of soil around the root balls when transplanting.
Recommended varieties. There are many native coneflower species, including E. purpurea, hailing from different parts of the country that would make great additions to native plant gardens.
Cultivars of E. purpurea are also available. Some popular choices include ‘Bravado’, ‘Coconut Lime’, ‘Doubledecker’ (’Doppelganger’), ‘Fragrant Angel’, ‘Kim’s Knee High’, ‘Magnus’, ‘Razzmatazz’, ‘Rubinstern’ (’Ruby Star’), ‘White Lustre’ and ‘White Swan’. ‘Rocky Top is a commonly available cultivar E. tennesseensis.
New coneflower hybrids are showing up in an increasing range of colors. The list seems endless, but some favorites include ‘Adam Saul’, ‘Aloha’, ‘Art’s Pride’ (’Orange Meadowbrite’), ‘Cheyenne Spirit’, ‘Fatal Attraction’, ‘Green Envy’, ‘Harvest Moon’, ‘Mango Meadowbrite’, ‘Pixie Meadowbrite’, ‘Quills and Thrills’, ‘Southern Belle’, ‘Solar Flare’, ‘Sunrise’, Sunset, ‘Sundown’, ‘Tangerine Dream’, ‘Tomato Soup’ and ‘Tiki Torch’.
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Cultivars of E. purpurea are also available. Some popular choices include ‘Bravado’, ‘Coconut Lime’, ‘Doubledecker’ (’Doppelganger’), ‘Fragrant Angel’, ‘Kim’s Knee High’, ‘Magnus’, ‘Razzmatazz’, ‘Rubinstern’ (’Ruby Star’), ‘White Lustre’ and ‘White Swan’. ‘Rocky Top is a commonly available cultivar E. tennesseensis.
New coneflower hybrids are showing up in an increasing range of colors. The list seems endless, but some favorites include ‘Adam Saul’, ‘Aloha’, ‘Art’s Pride’ (’Orange Meadowbrite’), ‘Cheyenne Spirit’, ‘Fatal Attraction’, ‘Green Envy’, ‘Harvest Moon’, ‘Mango Meadowbrite’, ‘Pixie Meadowbrite’, ‘Quills and Thrills’, ‘Southern Belle’, ‘Solar Flare’, ‘Sunrise’, Sunset, ‘Sundown’, ‘Tangerine Dream’, ‘Tomato Soup’ and ‘Tiki Torch’.
More
How to Find the Right Native Plants for Your Yard
How to Design a Meadow Garden Everyone Will Love
Discover more great design plants on Houzz
Botanical name: Echinacea spp.
Common name: Coneflower
Origin: Native to the eastern and central United States
Where will it grow: Hardy to minus 40 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 40 degrees Celsius (USDA zones 3 to 9; find your zone)
Water requirement: Regular; can handle some drought when established
Light requirement: Full sun
Mature size: 1½ to 3 feet tall, or taller, and 1 to 3 feet wide