Purple coneflowers are relatively easy to grow in our Mississippi gardens and landscapes. When the seedlings have two or three sets of leaves the following spring, they can be transplanted. Sowing coneflower seed in small pots in the fall and leaving the pots outside is an easy way to stratify. A short period (about 30 to 90 days) of cool, moist stratification can help ensure even germination. Purple coneflowers will readily grow from seed. Each crown division should have a shoot and roots attached. The clumps should be divided in the spring as new growth is emerging. Division of the crown can be performed every three to four years. Purple coneflowers can be propagated either by division or seed. Leaving any seed heads at the end of the season will provide winter food for birds and some reseeding the next year. When mulching coneflowers, pull the mulch away from the crown after application.ĭeadheading will encourage reblooming well into fall and improve the appearance of the planting bed. Excess mulch can hold moisture against the crown. Be careful when applying any type of mulching materials. Fertilizing or composting will both build a better soil and feed the plants. Be sure to use commercial potting media in containers.Įach spring, feed your purple coneflower plants with a liberal sprinkling of either a balanced, controlled-release fertilizer or a high-quality compost. Growing in large containers is an excellent way to improve drainage. Don’t bury the crown of the plant below the grade of the surrounding soil. Planting in berms or raised beds will help water drain away from the crowns.
These flowering perennials prefer a well-drained soil amended with a good quality compost or organic matter. Once established in the landscape, purple coneflowers are drought-tolerant plants.
#GROW PURPLE CONEFLOWER FULL#
For best flowering performance, plant in full sun to partial shade. Planting site selection is an important consideration when growing purple coneflowers. Purple coneflowers don’t require much maintenance at all in fact, they thrive on neglect. Others evolved in the moist woodlands east of the Mississippi River. Many evolved in the Midwestern prairies and are adapted to the heat and frequent droughty conditions.
Members of this group can be found from the Gulf of Mexico to beyond the Canadian border. There are nine species of coneflower native to North America. Echinacea is derived from the Greek word “echinos,” meaning hedgehog, which refers to the spiny seed heads. Purple coneflowers are members of the genus Echinacea. Purple coneflowers are fantastic butterfly-attracting plants. The foliage color can range from pale to dark green. The name is derived from the beautiful flowers, with their purple petals and dark center cones. Purple coneflowers can really make a statement in the home garden and landscape.
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