Coneflower Plant

Coneflower plant is an extremely popular plant among herbalists. Medical studies have shown that this plant can be used to enhance and strengthen the immune system – it can also be quite useful in the treatment of a number of diseases.

But it's medicinal qualities are hardly the only reason gardeners grow Coneflower.

It looks very beautiful in a flower bed or in a border – it is a perennial, and can stand even a rather severe climate.

It prefers a reasonably dry environment, and dislikes marshy wetness.

There are quite a number of varieties of Coneflower, but the most popular are purple Coneflower, and a white species called 'Swan'. These plants love a fertile soil, and if you provide this, can reach up to four feet in height.

Coneflower plant can be an amazing half a foot across! In almost all the varieties of Coneflower, the petals of these flowers form a cone in which the petals droop towards the outermost section.

They have long and strong stems, so they will be perfect if you like flowers from your garden to decorate your rooms with. You can even use them as a backdrop for smaller plants and bushes.

Growing Coneflower plant

Coneflower plant prefer the sun, and of course a very fertile soil. If you have problems with infertile soil, simply mix in a lot of compost, and your Coneflowers will grow beautifully.

Remember to keep the soil well drained, because this plant will not tolerate excess moisture.

If moisture gets to be a problem, you may have to prepare a raised flower bed for these plants.

As a matter of fact, these plants generally only need to be watered until they are established, growing after that on the natural moisture provided by the occasional rainstorm, of course except in very dry regions.

Propagation

Coneflower plant is very good at self-seeding, but you must be careful to leave a few flowers to dry naturally. And be sure that you don't pull up the little seedlings when you weed your garden in the Spring.

You'll probably want to move the little plants to the exact location that you want. Alternatively, you can actually harvest seeds to plant yourself.

All you have to do is choose a few matured flowers and cut them, leaving them with a reasonably long stem. Then just enclose these in paper bags and hang them upside down.

The coneflower seeds will collect in the bag, and all you have to do is remove the organic debris, dry the seeds out properly (this can take about ten days) and then store them in a glass jar in the refrigerator.

One thing you must remember is that you need to ensure that all the flowers that you choose are mature, or else your seeds will not be viable.

These plants can also be propagated by division. When you do this tends to depend on what sort of climate you inhabit.

For example in colder regions, you should probably divide the plants late in spring or summer, when the weather and the soil have both warmed sufficiently.

If you live in a warmer climate on the other hand, you can carry out the division of the plants in spring or fall / autumn.

Remember to divide only older and well established coneflower plants. You begin the process by loosening the soil all around the root system of the plant, then thrust the spade under the plant and life it gently.

Shake it lightly to remove extra soil that may be clinging to it. Now cut the clump of roots in half with a knife, making sure that each half has all the necessary systems of the root.

Plant each half in a location of your choice, first enriching the spot with a mix of compost and balanced fertilizer.

Summary

Coneflower blooms midsummer to Fall and reaches a height of 2 to 4 feet tall. The cone flower is excellent as a cut flower.

Remove spent flowers to prolong the bloom time. However leave the last flower on the plant to have the full benefit of the seeds for the songbirds.

The plant reproduces itself readily and can be divided in early summer. It tolerates dry soil and is deer resistant.

Plant in full sun to light shade.

For Sale

Coneflower - After Midnight Scientific Name: Echinacea 'after midnight' Zone: 3-9 Sun: Full Sun to Partial Shade "The Coneflower 'After Midnight' PPAF, Echinacea, is the combination of magenta blooms, black stems, and reddish-black cones. Just a foot high and w... more
Coneflower - Coconut Lime Scientific Name: Echinacea 'coconut lime' Zone: 3-9 Sun: Full Sun to Partial Shade "The Echinacea 'Coconut Lime', Echinacea, is the first ever double-flowered, white Echinacea. The flower heads feature a ring of white petals surround... more	Coneflower - Double Decker Scientific Name: Echinacea 'double decker' Zone: 3-9 Sun: Full Sun to Partial Shade "The Coneflower 'Double Decker', Echinacea purpurea, has daisy like flowers of yellow, magenta and white (double decker), and have striking dark butt... more
Coneflower - Pink Double Delight Scientific Name: Echinacea 'pink double delight' Zone: 3-9 Sun: Full Sun to Partial Shade "The Echinacea 'Pink Double Delight', Echinacea purpurea, has a shorter, more compact habit than most coneflowers. A profusion of bright bubblegum pi... more	Conflower - Mixed Colors Scientific Name: Echinacea 'Mixed' Zone: 3-9 Sun: Full Sun to Partial Shade "The Coneflowers Mixed, Echinacea, have daisy-like flowers with striking button eyes. All varieties are care-free, super hardy perennials that are dr... more

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