Coneflowers are among the most versatile, carefree flowers for home gardeners. They are easy to grow in a range of conditions, and offer repeat blooms over six to eight weeks. Deadheading will prolong bloom time, too. The plants will self-sow and generally can be divided about once every four years. Once established, the plants are drought tolerant.

The flowers provide abundant seed for birds, and are especially favored by finches and other small birds. Purple Coneflowers are an excellent nectar source for butterflies. They are also a larval host plant for the Ottoe skipper butterfly. In addition to their virtues in the habitat garden, coneflowers make nice cut flowers for your home. Some gardeners also find medicinal use for the Echinacea root in relieving allergy and cold symptoms.

In a summer border Purple Coneflowers grow 3- 5 feet tall and do not need staking. They mix well with Sunflowers, Black-eyed susans (Rudbeckia spp.), Goldenrod (Solidago spp.), Gayfeather (Liatris spicata,) and other colorful perennials. They thrive in average garden soil, but do not mind moist soil in either full sun or mixed sun/shade garden. The Yellow Coneflowers are about 2 feet tall, bloom a bit earlier than Purple Coneflower and for a shorter period. The Yellow Coneflower also prefers a sunnier, drier spot than its Purple cousin. Try both colors, and see which one you like for your garden.

Look for native Coneflowers, Echinacea purpurea (Purple Coneflower) and Echinacea paradoxa (Yellow Coneflower.) Many cultivars are available, but they lead to genetic homogenization of the plant in natural settings, so try to find the straight native species to plant.

Coneflowers, and over 100 species of other native plants are available at Yellow Springs Farm in Chester Springs, PA. Please visit the website www.yellowspringsfarm.com or call Catherine and Al Renzi at 610-827-2014 to learn more about their Native Plants Nursery.