How to grow Coneflower

Echinacea

Weed regularly.

Growing Coneflower from seed

It is suggested that to kick-start germination, put your seeds in the fridge for up to four weeks before planting them. They can also be sown outdoors.

Ensure a distance of 1.95 feet (60.0 cm) between seeds when sowing - look to sow at a depth of approximately 0.2 inches (0.5 cm). Soil temperature should be kept higher than 25°C / 77°F to ensure good germination.

By our calculations*, you should look at sowing Coneflower about 56 days before your last frost date .

Transplanting Coneflower

If transplanting echinacea, be sure to dig deeply, as their roots extend down, and keep them packed in soil. Keep the plant outside of the ground for as minimal a time as possible.

While it is suggested that echinacea be planted a ways a part, they are an easily adaptable plant and will grow easily in a more condensed garden.

Ensure that temperatures are mild and all chance of frost has passed before planting out, as Coneflower is a very hardy plant.

Harvesting Coneflower

SEED: After seeds mature (wait for flowers to fade completely, petals will turn brown and possibly fall off and stem under flowerhead will turn brown and dry) collect seed heads and place in paper bag for several months to allow time to dry completely. Once dry shake bag to separate seeds from pod. Alternately leave the pods on the plant and go out in mid November and shake seeds from plant into your hand. Seeds are white and have been described as looking like “monster teeth”. Keep seeds in a dark cool place such as your refrigerator for up to a year.

ROOTS: (for medicinal use): *note, do not use any plant medicinally without the assistance of an experienced herbalist. Harvest in the fall or early winter after a few hard frosts. Use a sharp knife to cut off a portion of the root. Cut into 1 inch or shorter segments. Thoroughly wash. Dry by hanging, laying on screens, or in a dehydrator/oven. Store in dry, cool location.

FLOWER HEAD: (for medicinal use): *note, do not use any plant medicinally without the assistance of an experienced herbalist. Harvest just as flower starts to open. Cut stem where leaves are growing. Hang flowers upside down in small bundles out of direct sunlight to dry. When dry the leaves crumble when touched. Store in cool dry place.

How long does Coneflower take to grow?

These estimates for how long Coneflower takes to sprout, grow and harvest are from real observations from real gardeners, right around the world.

Days to Germination How long does it take Coneflower to germinate?
13 days

Average 13 days | Min 5 days | Max 422 days (16)

Days to Transplant How long until I can plant out Coneflower?
+ 53 days

Average 53 days | Min 44 days | Max 67 days (2)

Days to Maturity How long until Coneflower is ready for harvest / bloom?
+ 157 days

Average 157 days | Min 41 days | Max 432 days (10)

Total Growing Days How long does it take to grow Coneflower?
= 223 days

When should I plant Coneflower?

Our when to plant Coneflower estimates are relative to your last frost date.

When to sow The number of days to sow Coneflower before or after your last frost date.
56 days before Last Frost Date

Coneflower Etymology

The genus name is from the Greek echino, meaning “spiny,” due to the spiny central disk.

The Latin word “Americana” means “of the Americas”.1

Coneflower Folklore & Trivia

History
Echinacea angustifolia was widely used by the North American Plains Indians for its general medicinal qualities.9 Echinacea was one of the basic antimicrobial herbs of eclectic medicine from the mid 19th century through the early 20th century, and its use was documented for snakebite, anthrax,and for relief of pain. In the 1930s Echinacea became popular in both Europe and America as a herbal medicine. According to Wallace Sampson, MD, its modern day use as a treatment for the common cold began when a Swiss herbal supplement maker was “erroneously told” that echinacea was used for cold prevention by Native American tribes who lived in the area of South Dakota. In fact, many Native American tribes used echinacea for symptoms that are associated with the common cold. The Kiowa used it for coughs and sore throats, the Cheyenne for sore throats, the Pawnee for headaches, and many tribes used it as an analgesic, including the Sioux from South Dakota.

Other names for Coneflower

Coneflower, Zonnehoed, Cone flower, Echinacia mix

Echinacea x, Echinacea hybrida

Misspellings: Purple Cone Flower, Enichea, Ecinasha, Echinaca, Echinecea

Footnotes

1 Latin Dictionary


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