Coneflowers
One of my favorite plants to grow in our hot, dry climates is the coneflower. For years, gardeners had the pleasure of the purple coneflower to decorate their landscape. Today, there are a number of new cultivars.
New colors, such as red, orange, yellow, and white are choices offered to the gardener. Each of these performs as the original, hardworking in the garden. I have found, though, that the hardest worker of all is still the purple one.
Coneflower, known by its Latin name as Echinacea (as in the medicinal herb) is a drought tolerant flower, meaning that it can stand up to our Southern heat and lack of water. It performs best in full sun.
Most grow up to about two to three feet, with large flower petals surrounding a large cone like center. There are dwarf varieties, as well, which grow to a little over a foot in height.
In the fall, these stalwarts of the garden produce an abundance of seeds that goldfinches love to dine upon. Those seeds that escape the hungry beaks of birds easily fall to the ground and come back in the form of small seedling plants the following spring. I have many in my garden right now. Thus, these plants easily reseed themselves, giving you wonderful free plants each year. Plus, they are magnets to butterflies, as well. A plus, plus for your garden.
Planting these flowers is quite simple. Simply dig a hole three times the width of the plant’s rootball, and amend the hole with compost or other soil amendments. If, when you take the plant out of the container and it is rootbound, (a condition when you can see the plant’s roots woven tightly together) take a knife and cut some of the plant’s roots. You are simply giving the roots a chance to spread into the soil. Finally, plant the coneflower into the amended soil, cover with mulch, and water well, tapping down the soil in the process.
The plant produces its flowers best in the summer, and will continue into early fall. You can deadhead the faded flowers for continued blooming, as well. By mid fall, the flowers begin to fade for the last time. Instead of deadheading these, let the faded blooms revert to seed for a treat for the birds, or allow the seeds to drop for new plants.
I have had the purple variety in my gardens for over a decade now, and have tried some of the newer varieties, too. Try one yourself, this year. If you have been growing the purple one, grab a different color this year from a nursery and enjoy!