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This Easy-To-Grow Perennial Is Perfect For Beginner Gardeners
By LAUREN KRYSTAF
Coneflower is a broad term for echinacea, ratibida, and rudbeckia. They have raised or cone-shaped centers surrounded by ray flowers that are colloquially referred to as petals.
These flowers are colorful, drought tolerant, and beneficial to pollinators and other wildlife. They are self-seeding and bring a whimsical prairie beauty to your landscape.
Purple coneflowers do well in zones 3 through 8, and orange varieties do well in zones 3 through 9. Start the seeds indoors or in well-draining loamy soil in a sunny location.
You can start your coneflowers from seed during spring or summer, but they require stratification, which can be done in the refrigerator. Sowing in August is easier, though.
Coneflowers are also excellent candidates for the winter sowing method, which is when seeds are planted in milk containers and left outside through the winter.
Don't rush to cut back your coneflowers in winter — the seed heads provide excellent food for birds, and they may also self-seed, helping you expand your coneflower collection.
You can also keep the seeds to plant in your desired locations. Most coneflowers benefit from division every few years to prevent them from becoming overcrowded.