Coneflowers steal the show during August. Clustered together, in full bloom, they make a dazzling sight with their long petals, in delicious shades of dusky pink, vanilla and soft white shining in contrast against the raised dark centers.
Magnets for bees, butterflies and other pollinators, these sun loving perennials are easy to care for and their appeal lasts long after the petals fade. Not only do their striking seedheads add texture and seasonal interest when left intact on the upright stems but they are packed with nutritious seeds that are highly prized by garden finches, bluejays and cardinals throughout fall and winter.
Knowing how to grow coneflowers (echinacea) – is pretty straightforward but there are some care tasks that should be tackled during August. Equip yourself with sturdy pair of Felco Pruning Snips from Amazon and read more about when to remove and leave fading flowers, damaged stems and other late summer coneflower issues.
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Stop Feeding Coneflowers For Healthier Plants
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August is the time to stop fertilizing coneflowers, in fact these short-lived perennials should rarely need feeding if the growing conditions are right.
‘Native plants adapted to the local region don’t need fertilization, especially when grown in healthy soil,’ says Head of Native Plant Habitat Strategy at the National Wildlife Federation, Mary Phillips. ‘Excess fertilizer can actually encourage lush, weak foliage growth at the expense of blooms. Instead, focus on building healthy soil with organic matter such as compost and leave natural plant material in place where possible.’
Consider the best coneflowers varieties for your plot; there are plenty of irresistible offerings at Burpee, including Butterfly Kisses Echinacea Purpurea.
Work well rotted organic compost such as this R&M compost from Amazon into the soil around the base of the plant or learn how to make compost using your own garden and kitchen waste.
Manage deadheading coneflowers for a smooth transition into fall
(Image credit: Getty Images/ LorraineHudgins)
Each raised and slightly bristly coneflower centre harbors a surprising number of seeds, presenting the wildlife loving gardener with a tricky dilemma. When is it best to stop deadheading blooms – pausing the formation of future blooms – and leave the seedheads to die back naturally?
‘By late summer, it’s a good time to start shifting the mindset from maintaining the garden to creating wildlife,’ says Mary. ‘Rather than cutting coneflowers back as soon as flowers fade, allow the stalks and seedheads to remain standing through fall and winter. They provide food for birds, structure for the garden, and places for insects to shelter and overwinter.’
Can’t bear to bid the vibrant blooms goodbye? then selective deadheading can prove a handy compromise, as Mary explains. ‘Gardeners who want to extend lowering can selectively deadhead some blooms while leaving others to mature into seedheads.’
Coneflower is one of the best plants for attracting American Goldfinches into your yard. Provide a natural feast for the eyes and seed-eating birds by weaving ‘Ruby Star’ Coneflower from Nature Hills through a mixed bed of ornamental grasses or fill planters with attention grabbing varieties such as native ‘Green Twister’ coneflower and the sweeping petals of ‘Pale Purple’ Coneflower, both from Plant Addicts.
Only Remove Dead Or Diseased Stems
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There’s no need to routinely cut back coneflower stems at the end the summer. Robbing the plant of late blooms, valuable seedheads and the opportunity to replenish its energy reserves before winter dormancy, experts now advise to leave the plant to die back naturally.
That said, there are exceptions. ‘It is important to cut back any diseased or dead steams in Fall or even in Winter dormancy,’ says plant expert Katie Sunderlage. ‘This will help protect the plant against any future infestation or fungal issues the following Spring when the new growth emerges. When cutting back the dead stems, prune to about 1-2 inches above the ground using a clean pruners.’
Hand shears such as these Fiskars Bypass Pruning Shears from Walmart will do the job, but remember to limit the spread of any fungal spores by disposing of infected plant material in the household garbage rather than the compost heap.
Mary is Head of Native Plant Habitat & Certifications at the National Wildlife Federation, is an ambassador for native plants. Her work ensures all habitat programs and resources are rooted in sustainable practices and the latest science.
Operations Manager at Holland Group, managing the customer service department and purchasing. Katie has been in the green industry since 2005 in the Greater Milwaukee area, earning her degree in Horticulture in 2008. She has been able to share her love for plants working in multiple garden centers, in sales positions and most recently in an online retail platform at Holland Group.
Stake Coneflower As And When Needed
(Image credit: Getty Images/Jacky Parker Photography)
August is the last month where coneflowers are actively growing, so it pays to let them harvest all the energy they can, to strengthen root systems ready for the dormant season and following spring, when growth resumes.
Although fairly robust plants, occasional summer storms can take their toll and damage stems and foliage. Provide support to help aid stem recovery, as landscape architect Stacilyn Feldman explains.
‘If staking is needed, utilize 3-5 stakes around the mass with loose twine. Don’t try to stake each stem, rather stake it in a bunch to retain the strength of the massing,’
While regular bamboo canes such as these from Walmart will do the job, they look very visible. Instead opt for an elegant metal peony support like this from Amazon or rustic spiral plant supports from Agriframes.
Stacilyn is a celebrated landscape architect known for her planting design and detailing in botanical gardens, residential estates, green roofs and urban development in Washington, DC, New York City and across the United States. Stacilyn holds a Bachelors of Landscape Architecture from The Pennsylvania State University.
Save Some Seeds To Grow On
(Image credit: Getty Images/ tanjica perovic photography)
Coneflowers are prolific seed producers and late summer is the perfect time to harvest them. Whether you are looking to gather and raise your own plants from seed or pass seeds on to friends, it’s time to get gathering and discover the seed harvesting mistakes to avoid.
Look for fading blooms with dark, plump and firm central cones, and snip them off with 4-5in (20-22.5cm) stem intact. Place stems upside down in a paper bag, with ends of the stem protruding, secure the bag around the stems with a length of twine a hang in a warm, dry yet well ventilated spot for 1 to 2 weeks.
Once dry, the seeds will fall from the seedhead into the bag. Use these garden tweezers from Walmart to remove the chaff and stems. Store seed until needed in these brown kraft bags with window, from Amazon.
What to Shop
Nature Hills Nursery
Powwow® Wild Berry Coneflower
With it’s reflexed pink petals and rust tinged center, this compact coneflower is truly striking. Reaching just 1-2ft tall, it’s perfect for pots and borders.
Botanical Interests
Bring Home the Butterflies Flower Mix Seed Shaker
Bring butterflies into your yard, the easy way, with this seed shaker mix of annual, biennial, and perennial flowers and herbs. Including Purple Coneflower and many other self seeders, the contents will cover 1,500 square ft.
American Beauties Native Plants
Green Twister Coneflower
Celebrate late summer with the unusual coloring of Coneflower ‘Green Twister’. Reaching 2-3ft high, grow this variety in part shade or full sun.
Keep these eye-catching perennials in good shape for next year by learning how to winterize coneflowers in 5 steps.
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