What Is a Coneflower?

The term "coneflower" refers to the common name of species belonging to the botanical genus Echinacea. Coneflowers have protruding, prickly centers and daisy-like petals that come in a range of colors. The petals tend to droop slightly downward, combining with the center of the flower to give the entire flower head a conelike shape. As native plants, coneflowers grow easily throughout much of North America.

Features of Echinacea
Botanists currently recognize 11 species of coneflower, which share several key traits. Coneflowers belong to the composite plant family, meaning that their bristly centers actually consist of dozens of tiny flowers surrounded by a single corona of petals. They are perennial plants, and their multiple tall stems grow back annually from the root system, which typically consists of a taproot. Foliage grows beneath the flower heads. The centers are the chief defining characteristic. The name Echinacea derives from the Greek word for hedgehog and the centers of the flowers do resemble their prickly namesakes.

Relatives
Coneflowers resemble daisies, black-eyed Susans and other familiar wildflowers, and it's no wonder: They all belong to the enormous composite flower family. Close relatives of the coneflower also include sunflowers, dandelions and thistles.

Growing Coneflowers
Coneflowers will grow well in USDA zones 3 through 9. In the wild, they typically inhabit meadow and other open spaces, so they prefer a full-sun to partial-shade site. Although you'll get your best blossoms, if you choose a well-drained and evenly moist site, coneflowers are also tough plants and will withstand both high heat and drought.

Once planted, coneflowers require little special care. The Clemson Cooperative Extension recommends 1 lb. of 12-6-6 slow-release fertilizer per 100 square feet, applied in early spring before new foliage appears. You can remove the dead seed heads in the autumn, although they provide a favorite food source for wildlife and birds, especially goldfinches.

Landscaping with Coneflowers
As tall plants, coneflowers form a nice backdrop in the garden. Their many stems, flowers and foliage lend a rugged appearance to the garden, typical of what one would expect in a meadow. As drought-tolerant plants, gardeners wishing to conserve water should consider them. Deer also avoid coneflowers, making them an attractive choice for gardens plagued by hungry deer. Coneflowers do, however, provide a nectar source for butterflies.

Although the purple coneflower (E. purpurea) is the most familiar type of coneflower and a native species throughout much of the central and eastern United States, other cultivars and species give you a variety of colors to choose from when planning your garden.

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About Coneflowers

Nearly everyone is familiar with the purple coneflower, a long-time resident of Grandmother's flower garden. In the past several decades, both professional and hobbyist growers have expanded the range of colors to allow the inclusion of coneflowers in nearly any color scheme. Not just pretty flowers, they are also tough customers when it comes to withstanding the rigors of drought and frost. The following article gives you the low-down on adding these beauties to your home.

Use

The coneflower is a hardy perennial flower that puts on a colorful show in the flower border, herb garden or meadow. There are even a few varieties available for growing in container gardens. Considered a weed in some areas, coneflowers are tough plants that do well in drought-prone areas. A great plant for filling in bare spots and adding some height to low borders, the coneflower is also outstanding in cut-flower arrangements, its blossoms lasting from 5 to 7 days.

Types

The most common color is purple. This variety is the source of echinacea, an herbal anti-viral remedy. However, the original coneflower was orange and today's flowers are its descendants. Through selective breeding, coneflowers are now available in white, pink, red, yellow and even light green. In addition to the familiar daisy-like single blossoms, there are now multi-petaled varieties that more closely resemble asters or zinnias. Some breeders have developed cultivars with frosted or variegated foliage that add even more interest to a planting of coneflowers and companion plants.

Where to Grow
Coneflowers were originally native to the hot Plains prairies but are now grown in most temperate regions of the country. Coneflowers are cultivated in growing zones 3 to 8 in the continental U.S. Mimicking the conditions found in their native habitat is the best way to grow a bountiful supply of blooms.

Growing From Seed
Coneflowers, especially the purple varieties, are easily grown from seed. Most varieties flourish in sunny, hot, dry, even dusty locations, but don't mind a bit of shade during the hottest part of the day. If you want to grow your own plants from seed you've collected from this summer's flowers, make sure they're completely dry, place them in an empty pill bottle or film canister and then put them in the refrigerator for 60 to 90 days. Start your new seedlings in flats a few weeks before your last frost. They germinate in 10 days and need hardening off before planting in the garden.

Growing From Divisions
Many gardeners consider dividing coneflowers the easiest way to propagate them. By do this, it's easier to keep uniformity among the flowers. Those grown from seed are often hybrids and you never know what you're going to get. Dividing coneflower roots is best done between March and September. To ensure the survival of most of the divisions, make sure you dig a nice big clump of roots. Plants with inadequate root systems tend to die out from added stress. You can either move the divisions directly to their new home or you can coddle them for a few weeks in pots until their roots recover.

Source: http://www.ehow.com/about_5087193_coneflowers.html