Cone Crazy

Echinacea paradoxa


Tennessee Coneflower

The fall gardening catalogs are arriving in my mailbox, and cultivars of Echinacea, the horticultural industry’s new darling, are blooming on the front covers. But how do these newcomers fare in the garden? Over the last two or three years, I’ve planted several species and cultivars in the Echinacea genus in my zone 5, suburban Chicago yard. Here’s how they’ve fared.

In general, the cones required little care. Because I leave seeds for birds, I don’t deadhead. They have done well without supplemental watering in July and August heat. Choose where you will grow them carefully, because they form deep taproots and do not transplant well if they must be moved later.

Species Coneflowers
I’ve had good, old-fashioned E. purpurea for years, since long before the genus became the latest fad. It’s been a consistent performer in a sunny spot next to a walkway, blooming every July. Plant heights have reached 3-4 feet (chest high) with generous amounts of purple blooms. There has been little spread or invasion of other areas, with plants well-behaved for all of the past 10 years.

E. pallida (pale-purple coneflower) is in its second year as a resident of my garden, and I’m sorry I didn’t plant it sooner. It’s grown well in both full sun and light shade, with plants getting slightly taller, about 4 feet, in full sun than in the shade. So far, I haven’t seen any invasive tendencies, but I haven’t had the plants that long. The flower petals are somewhat longer, narrower, and lighter in color than E. purpurea. They droop below the central button of the flower.

E. tennesseensis (Tennesse Coneflower) is somewhat shorter than E. purpurea. The plants have grown quickly and formed looser clumps than the other species coneflowers. As my Tennessee coneflower is only in its second season, it hasn’t spread much. It is quite a vigorous grower, however, which sometimes is an early sign that a plant will become invasive. The blooms are roughly the same size as other species coneflowers, but somewhat pinkish in color. This plant is indigenous to cedar glades in Tennessee, and was thought to be extinct in the 1960’s. Because it is endangered in its native habitat, buy only plants or seeds guaranteed to be nursery grown or propagated. I have grown these in full sun, but they should tolerate some shade.

Also growing in full sun is my E. paradoxa. This plant, also in its second year, has grown more slowly than the other species coneflowers. It produces yellow blooms, but the stems on this plant tend to flop over. It might stay more upright staked or inter-planted with other tall plants, which would provide support.

Hybrid Coneflowers
Much of the hype surrounding coneflowers has centered on “new” hybrids. These are touted in catalogs as improvements on the native species and often are a cross between two natives. They feature unnatural colors or flowers with unusual or unnatural forms. Whether some of these unusual blooms are an improvement is a matter of taste.

The popular Big Sky™ series of coneflowers includes many plants with unusual colors and is bred by ItSaul Plants.

In its second year, my E. ‘Sundown’ (photo, right) has grown to be a large plant with flowers tinted in gradations of orange and pink. It’s a cross between E. paradoxa and E. purpurea touted in some catalogs as being a more prolific bloomer. I don’t see evidence that it produces more blooms than E. purpurea, but they are a lovely color. In full sun, the plant has been vigorous, and might even spread a bit with time. So far, it’s my favorite of the hybrids I’ve tried.

I’ve seen claims that E. ‘Fatal Attraction’ produces darker, more saturated blooms. I really can’t tell the difference between the flowers on my ‘Fatal Attraction’ and those on my E. purpurea. The plants are shorter and stockier than E. purpurea, which is as promised in the catalogs.

Another Big Sky hybrid in its second year, E. ‘Harvest Moon’ has grown slowly, even in full sun. The plant is smaller than my E. ‘Sundown’ though both were planted at the same time. Blooms are deep yellow to gold. Like E. paradoxa, the stems tend to be somewhat floppy. The plant seems generally less vigorous than the species coneflowers.

Growing E. ‘Double Decker’ is like having a bearded lady in my front yard. The blooms certainly stand out, and it’s hard not to look at them. But I wouldn’t exactly call them attractive. The three-year-old, 3-foot-tall plants produce flowers that look like a deformed coneflower daisy, with a second upward-pointing ring of small petals.

If you’re thinking some Echinacea would look nice in your yard, don’t hesitate to try fall planting. My plants did just fine when planted in September. And if you’re interested in trying seeds, which are an inexpensive way to grow lots of coneflowers, the best time to sow them outdoors is in the fall. Coneflower seeds must have moisture and chilling to break dormancy, and the easiest way to meet this requirement is to take advantage of winter weather.