Seasons Template

Coneflowers prefer full to partial sun on well-drained, fertile soil. It will NOT tolerate heavy compacted soils. (If that sounds like your garden use sharp sand and compost to improve drainage and texture of your soil.) Avoid over-watering in the area(s) where your coneflower has gone dormant for the winter; this is a sure-fire way to kill your newly planted coneflower.

Echinacea is an excellent plant for attracting butterflies, birds, and bees. If you are squeamish about the bees don't be. Unless you are allergic, bees are wonderful insects that we need to promote and encourage in our gardens. Plus, bees are much more interested in that beautiful bloom than any of us! In addition to being great at attracting beneficial insects and birds, coneflower is a perennial that deer generally do not prefer.

Big Sky Series Echinacea

While purple is the most recognizable color of coneflowers, thanks to special breeding, there is a color explosion going on in the world of Echinacea. Varieties like 'Tomato Soup', 'Mac N' Cheese', 'Pink Poodle', and the 'Big Sky' series, gardeners can have the full color spectrum to play with in the garden. With picture perfect names like 'Tiki Torch' and 'White Swan,' your summer garden can take on a whole new meaning to the word "dramatic!"

Coneflowers make excellent cut flowers as well. With mature plants reaching three to four feet there is an abundance of flowers to pick for your indoor arrangements. Coneflowers make a stunning statement when planted with medium size grasses like Miscanthus and are perfect as a backdrop for other summer blooming perennials and annuals like Lantana and 'Diamond Frost' Euphorbia. Stop by the Garden Center at Miller Hardware and let us show you these wonderful plants and the diversity of their summer colors!