![]() ![]() To direct sow into the garden, plant the seeds ¼" deep and a few inches apart in the early spring. Seed sown indoors or in a greenhouse germinate better than direct sown seed. If sowing the seed indoors, surface-sow them in a pot at 68☏ (20☌). Jim Ault of the Chicago Botanic Garden gives his seeds 8 weeks of cold stratification. Scientific studies have reported conflicting results. It is unclear if Echinacea seed has a cold stratification requirement. Unfortunately, many of the new hybrid cultivars have reduced viability or are totally sterile. If you plan on storing them for a long time, the seeds should be refrigerated. The seeds are best when used in less than a year but they remain viable for at least 7 years. Separate the seeds from the chaff, dry them for a few weeks, and then store them in a cool dry place. The plant will release the seeds into the bag when they are ready. To grow Echinacea from seed, cut a stalk with a spent flower, enclose the flower in a paper bag and hang the plant upside down. If the flower heads are not removed, the wild-types will re-seed in the garden. Gardeners who want their Echinacea to produce seed should plant at least 2 genetically distinct individuals. All of the species are self-infertile to some degree. At the end of the season, leave the spent flowers on the plant and you will be rewarded with fall and winter visits by goldfinches who feed on the seeds.Įchinacea 'Tangerine Dream' PP 21,773 How to Propagate Purple ConeflowerĮchinacea plants may be propagated by seed or division, but remember that hybrid cultivars will not come true from seed. Spent Echinacea flowers can be removed (dead-headed) to improve the general appearance of the plant, but it is not necessary. How do I keep coneflower looking its best through the summer? For best performance, however, we recommend at least 1-2" of water per week during the growing season. How much water does coneflower need?Įchinacea plants are tough native plants that are quite drought tolerant once established in the garden. The wild species Echinacea angustifolia and Echinacea pallida can tolerate more alkaline conditions while Echinacea paradoxa and Echinacea tennesseensis prefer a more acidic soil. Most of the Echinacea hybrids do well in a wide range of soil pH levels. Some wild species prefer alkaline and some prefer slightly acid soil. What type of soil pH does coneflower prefer? Poor drainage in the winter is very effective at killing coneflowers. Like most perennials, Echinacea performs best in a well-drained soil. What type of soil drainage does coneflower prefer? They are very adaptable to soil type and can be grown in dry sandy soil, glacial tills, fluvial silts, loess, clay, loam soils, and even coal mine spoils. What kind of soil do coneflowers like?Įchinacea looks best in a compost ammended soil but tolerates nutrient poor soils better than most garden plants. ![]() What humidity levels does coneflower tolerate?Įchinacea plants tolerate humid air well and do well in the humidity of the east coast and midwest How much sunlight does a coneflower need?Įchinacea plants prefer full sun which means 6+ hours of direct sunlight per day. What temperatures do coneflowers like?Įchinacea plants prefer hot daytime temperatures during the summer. Most of the wild-types are hardy in zones 3-8 and can be grown almost anywhere in the continental US. They are great plants for southern gardeners but are also quite cold tolerant. The flower is still used today for pharmaceutical purposes, with respiratory relief being one of the more common uses.Echinacea 'Sunset' PP 16,424 How to grow Purple Coneflowers (and red, and orange, and yellow coneflowers too)Įchinacea are fairly easy to grow. ![]() Historically used to treat snake bites, headaches, and sore throats. Many local conservation groups and ecological landscaping companies use this species in restoration planting and other gardening purposes. Purple Coneflower is valuable to local wildlife and grows well with other native plants. The native range is the north-eastern United States, which is right on the border of Southern Ontario. While this plant is designated by VASCAN as introduced to Ontario, it is considered a near native plant to many plant professionals in the nursery industry in Southern Ontario. Grows nicely alongside prairie grasses and Black-Eyed Susan. Highly attractive to the Monarch butterfly and large seed heads attract small birds later in the season. The stunning blooms are long lasting throughout the summer. Grows in a variety of soil types and moistures but is intolerant of long dry periods and might begin to droop. An adaptable, easy to grow wildflower for your garden.
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