Getting to Know: The Coneflower (Echinacea)

Coneflowers are a favorite perennial of many. You often see them in giant clumps of flowers throughout landscapes and even while enjoying a nature hike.

The purple coneflower, Echinacea purpurea, is among the most common and has several different varieties to choose from. The 'Magnus' variety is very common and won the coveted Perennial Plant of the Year Award in 1998. Aside from the purple magnus, the purple coneflower also comes in varieties showing off white, cream-colored, rosy or yellow petals, among many other newer, brighter, more vivid hues.

Most have the tell-tale "coneflower" shape: a cone in the middle surrounded by downward-pointing petals. Some, however, have petals that lay horizontal, almost perpendicular to the cone.


Coneflowers are easy to take care of in part because they are native plants. They were built for the climate and soil. Coneflowers will self-sow into the soil, so you're likely to get many more plants than the few you started with. After every three or so years, it's time to divide them if you want to prevent overcrowding of your coneflower bed. Don't get too excited in the spring to plant echinacea -- these flowers do best when planted in fall.

These flowers are a favorite of butterflies and seed-eating birds such as finches. In your landscape, the butterflies will hover gracefully and sip the nectar. Once the flowers have "died," don't remove the heads until your seeds are all gone. Birds such as goldfinches will grace your browned coneflowers with their presence and pick them clean of the seeds.