A North American native, the coneflower or Echinacea is a must-have for your summer garden. These daisy-like flowers can be found in an endless array of colors—various shades of purple and pink, green, yellow, orange, and white. These colorful flowers are the perfect perennials to brighten up your garden. They are also fantastic pollinators, attracting hummingbirds and bees all summer long. Here’s what you need to know about coneflower care in your garden!
If you’ve been considering coneflowers for your garden, now is the time to get planting! Spring is a great time to plant as coneflowers typically bloom by midsummer. Find a sunny spot in your garden, and that’s where they’ll thrive! They love the sun and need at least 5 hours of it a day.
When planting new seeds, loosen the soil to about 12 to 15 inches deep. You can also add a couple of inches of compost. The soil should be well drained, and make sure the seeds are about 1 to 3 feet apart. Giving your coneflowers space for air circulation helps prevent fungal diseases.
While they are drought tolerant and can definitely handle the heat, they do prefer regular watering.
If you’re planting new seeds, avoid deadheading in the summer or trimming them back in the spring for the first year. After their first year, you can deadhead your coneflowers regularly to prolong the blooming season.
Coneflowers are perfect for cut arrangements, so before summer ends bring some inside for your kitchen table or desk!
The seedheads can also remain standing throughout the winter, providing food for birds. Trim the old flower stalks back in early spring and your blooms will be even fuller in the summer!
Do you want to bring a little cheer to your garden with coneflowers this season? Stop by GSCO. We’ll be happy to help!