Coneflower Care

Endemic to the regions of North America, the coneflower is popular for its different shades of flowers which include shades of red, purple, pink, white and orange. The raised thick and puffy center is also one of its characteristic features which adds to its beauty. Once the coneflower is grown, you would be amazed to see the number of butterflies and songbirds visiting your flower garden. The flowers bloom throughout midsummer to fall, and it is relatively drought-tolerant. Also, there may very few instances when you may notice your coneflower to be bothered by pests. Not only is the plant is known as a beautiful addition to any garden, it is also popular for its medicinal properties. The coneflower's appearance mimic that of the daisy, and depending upon the kind of variety, it can grow up to 2 to 4 feet tall.

How To Care for Coneflowers?

Caring for coneflower plants is not a daunting task as the species is one of those flowering plants, which are low on maintenance. The site to be chosen for planting the flower must be one which receives full sun to light shade. The soil must be fertile and well-drained. Best time to for planting is spring. Before planting, loosen the soil to a depth of about 12 - 15 inches and add in some compost (about 2 - 4 inch layer). Now, the hole to be dug must be twice the diameter of the pot the plant is in. Thereafter, place the plant in the hole and fill soil around the root. Do not forget to firm the soil gently, and water generously.

During the first growing season, young plants have to be watered adequately. This is to help the plants establish firm roots in the ground. Although, as I mentioned, the matured plants are drought-resistant, they also require a weekly dose of water in order to survive. If you stay in a place where the air is dry, then watering must be done more often. To add to this, during summers, if rainfall happens to be less than 1 inch per week, the coneflower must be watered more than normal. Each spring, the flower must be treated with a thin layer of compost, in conjunction with a 2 inch layer of mulch.

Caring for a coneflower plant also involves deadheading its flowers. In spring and early summer, it is advisable to deadhead the flower. This encourages new growth in the mid of late summer. Spent flowers must also be gotten rid of, in order to extend flower period. Any dead or browning leaves must also be done away with. This would make way for the growth of fresh greenery, later in the season. It is important to know that late-season flowers must be left to mature. Their seed heads will attract birds. To have a thicker growth later in the season, you can cut your coneflower to about 1/3 of its growth.

Feeding your coneflower plant with a handful of all-purpose slow-acting granular fertilizer is enough for fertilization. Take care that it does not touch the newly emerging leaves or stems. If your plant is a well established one, then there is no need for the use of any fertilizer though.

To conclude this piece with one last point, during spring or early fall, when the blooms have finished, you can consider dividing the plant. Get the plant out of the ground and cut it into half. Plant one half back into the original spot and the other half at a new location. Remember to plant the plants keeping a space of 1 - 3 feet or more, between them. And as mentioned in the above description, water the plants thoroughly and follow the other tips mentioned above.