Purple Coneflower Seeds (Echinacea)

Botanical Name: Echinacea purpurea

Life Cycle: Perennial

Light Requirement: Full Sun, Partial Sun

Planting Season: Spring, Fall

Blooms: Spring, Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer

Days to Maturity: 60-90 Days

Plant Height: 36-48 inches

Plant Spacing: 10-12 inches

Planting Depth: 1/4 inch

Sowing Method: Direct Sow

Cold Stratification: Yes

Hardiness Zone: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

How to Plant Purple Coneflower

ABOUT CONEFLOWER

Coneflowers are course, rough-hairy, herbaceous perennials that are native to most prairies, meadows, and open woods of the central to southeastern United States. This flower produces blooms that are daisy-like, with attractively drooping petals in a wide range of colors.

WHEN TO PLANT CONEFLOWER SEEDS

Plant in the late Fall, after the frost, or you can start indoors 6-8 weeks before your final frost date (after a period of 8-12 weeks of cold stratification).

WHERE TO PLANT CONEFLOWER SEEDS

Coneflowers do best in average, well-drained soil, exposed to Full Sun conditions. However, they can tolerate Partial Shade. Soil that is too rich may encourage green growth, but diminish your flowering.

HOW TO PLANT CONEFLOWER SEEDS

Broadcast sow your seeds directly onto the surface of the soil, and compress firmly. However, do not cover, as Coneflower seeds require sunlight to germinate.

HOW TO CARE FOR CONEFLOWER

In areas with normal rainfall, manual watering won't be necessary. Coneflower is drought tolerant as well. Typically Coneflowers won't need any fertilization, but if flowers are small or not developing well, use a high phosphorus fertilizer. When your cornflower blooms begin to look spent, cut down the plant by 1/3 of it's height, which will help re energize the plant as well as store energy for subsequent seasons.