Coneflower (echinacea sp.) is a must-have perennial. Not only are the daisy blooms beautiful in color, but also the cone-shaped seedheads attract adorable golden finches, butterflies and bees. No pollinator garden is complete without at least one variety of coneflower.
Coneflower is native to the United States with a long history of use for medicinal purposes. Research indicates that echinacea may help reduce your risk of catching a cold. The efficacy of echinacea’s immune-boosting properties may be impacted by the soil properties. The bottom line is there seems to be a connection between health benefits and echinacea although the research is not conclusive and long-term effects have yet to be determined.
There are dozens of varieties of echinacea but they all have similar growth requirements and habits. The leaves are commonly broad and the ray flowers have petals centered around a large seedhead. The spikes on the seedhead are what influenced the name Echinacea which means “hedgehog” in Greek. Tolerant of dry conditions, the coneflower thrives in Kansas gardens during the summer once established. New plants require regular watering and well-drained soil.
Coneflower is susceptible to the disease aster yellows, which is characterized by lighter green leaves, stunted plant growth and enlarged seed head. Aster yellows spreads easily throughout the plant and to other plants. Once a plant has become infected, it should be removed from the landscape to avoid further infestation. Japanese beetles are another common problem for coneflowers.
Plant coneflowers in the fall for the best success and allow several feet of space between plants. This will increase air flow and reduce the spread of disease. Though coneflowers are easy to start from seed, they also should be divided every few years to keep the plants healthy. Division should be done in the fall or spring.
Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) reaches 3 to 4-feet tall with pink to purple blooms that are 3-inches wide. Hardy to zone 3 this herbaceous perennial easily reseeds itself. (Echinacea angustifolia) is the narrow-leaf purple coneflower. It only reaches 12 to 16 inches in height and has thinner petals. Topeka Coneflower (Echinacea atrorubens) is a variety found primarily in eastern Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas. It spreads about 1-foot and reaches 3-feet tall with pink or reddish flowers April through June.
An interesting distinction is the Prairie Coneflower (Ratibida columnifera). Although in the same family as Echinacea and maintaining a similar appearance, this plant is not from the same genus as the previously mentioned coneflower varieties. The prairie coneflower has a bloom period May through August. The blooms are typically yellow and the center cone can be 1 ½ inches tall.
Coneflowers are an easy addition to the perennial garden with plenty of benefits for the gardener and others. Establishing a variety of Echinacea in your landscape will beautify the landscape with blooms and butterflies alike.
Cynthia Domenghini is an instructor and coordinator for K-State’s horticultural therapy online certificate program.