With bright yellow flower heads, coneflower attracts everyone's attention. It is no coincidence that the summer perennial is considered the secret ruler of the colorful flower bed. In order for the impressive flower to unfold its magic in your green kingdom, a few fundamental care aspects come into focus. You can find out what these are here.
How do I properly care for a sun hat?
To care for a coneflower successfully, plant it in a sunny location with nutrient-rich and fresh, moist soil. Water regularly, fertilize in April/May and June, remove wilted flowers and cut the perennial back to the ground in autumn or spring.
Planting coneflowers correctly
So that the perennial with golden yellow ray flowers and a brown heart keeps what the name promises, the following approach is important when planting:
- Weed thoroughly in a sunny location with nutrient-rich, permeable and freshly moist soil
- In the meantime, place the young plant with the root ball in a bucket of water
- The planting pit has 1-5 times the volume of the root ball
- For tall growing species and varieties, drill a support rod into the ground
Enrich the excavation with compost (€43.00 at Amazon) and horn shavings to insert the potted plant down to the bottom pair of leaves. The current growth height determines whether the coneflower is tied now or at a later date. After you have pressed and watered the substrate, the perennial is grateful for a layer of mulch made of leaves or grass.read more
Care tips
If you give coneflower the following care, the perennial will prove to be a faithful and flower-rich companion throughout the summer:
- Water regularly in the bed and pot when the soil has dried out
- Start fertilization in April/May and refreshment in June with compost, horn shavings or liquid fertilizer
- Clean out wilted flowers for abundant rebloom
- Pruning close to the ground either in autumn or early spring
Light winter protection outdoors is only recommended in the year of planting by covering coneflowers with leaves or coniferous twigs. Planters are wrapped in foil and placed on wood so that the root ball does not freeze. If there is a frost, you should water a little every now and then on mild days.read more
Which location is suitable?
Coneflower is available with floral splendor wherever it is full sun to sunny. In combination with nutrient-rich and fresh, moist soil, the perennial does its best. In partially shaded locations, however, the abundance of flowers falls far short of expectations.read more
The correct planting distance
So that a coneflower can show what summer beauty it has, an airy and at the same time seamless planting distance should be chosen. With an average growth height of the Echinacea genus of 80-100 cm, a distance of 35 cm from the plant neighbor is considered ideal. To green a larger area with Echinacea, plant 8 specimens per square meter. If you plant an impressive Rudbeckia with a height of up to 200 cm, a planting distance of 90 cm is considered appropriate.
What soil does the plant need?
Coneflower develops into a magnificent highlight in the perennial bed when the soil is nutrient-rich, humus-rich and slightly moist. For a plant in a pot, we therefore recommend using high-quality compost-based potting soil. It is advantageous to add perlite or lava granules to ensure good permeability.
What is the best time to plant?
You give coneflowers an excellent starting position in the perennial bed if you choose the autumnal months of September or October as the planting time. In the deeply warmed soil, the delicate roots immediately get to work to be well established by the first frost. As a result, the plants start in spring with a vital growth advantage compared to coneflowers that are only planted in April or May.read more
When is flowering time?
A coneflower pampers us with its eye-catching flower heads throughout the summer and into autumn. The brightly colored flower festival starts in July and lasts until October. It is beneficial to ensure uninterrupted flowering if you clean out faded specimens to make room for another bloom.read more
Cut coneflower correctly
If you inspect the coneflower bed during the flowering period, the scissors should always be at hand. Cut off any withered flower stems immediately to encourage the flower to sprout again. At the end of this year's flowering period, it is up to you to decide whether the perennial can self-sow in the garden. In this case, leave the flower stalks in the bed until next spring, where they will also act as a winter decoration with their little hedgehog heads. Only cut off the leaves when they have withered completely, because by then the remaining nutrients will be assimilated by the roots.
Various premium varieties are recommended as vase decorations, such as Rudbeckia Goldsturm or the robust Toto coneflower. Cut the most beautiful flower stalks close to the ground early in the morning when their buds have just opened.read more
Watering coneflowers
As a prairie flower, coneflower can easily tolerate short-term drought in exceptional cases. However, a constantly slightly moist substrate that dries out in the meantime is more conducive to a lush abundance of flowers. Ideally, you water the perennial directly on the roots and avoid watering from above.
Fertilize coneflower properly
Coneflower is not a fan of food and is happy about an organic starter fertilization in spring, which is refreshed during the flowering period. Therefore, give the flower a generous portion of compost and horn shavings in April/May and repeat the nutrient supply in June. If you cultivate the hedgehog heads in a bucket, it is advisable to give liquid fertilizer every 2 to 3 weeks due to the limited substrate volume. Fertilizer application ends at the end of August so that the perennial can prepare for winter.
Diseases
If the fungal disease mildew is rampant in the garden, the coneflower is rarely spared. Check the leaves every few days so that you can act immediately at the first symptoms. If a floury-white patina appears on the leaves, fresh milk should be available in the refrigerator. Milk water in a ratio of 1:9 is able to stop the fungal infection in the early stages of infestation. Spray the mixture on the top and bottom of the leaves every 2 days.
Wintering
Since both Rudbeckia and Echinacea coneflowers can withstand temperatures down to -35 degrees Celsius, no winter protection measures are required for well-established plants. We recommend the following precautions in the year of planting and in the pot:
- Cover coneflowers with leaves or needles in the first winter
- Place the bucket on wood, wrap it with foil and place it in front of the south wall of the house
If the winter lacks moisture in the form of rain or snow, water the perennial every now and then on a mild day.read more
Propagate coneflowers
The propagation of coneflower is just as uncomplicated as the entire cultivation of this magnificent perennial. Simply choose the method that suits you from the following:
- Dividing the root ball in spring or autumn
- Sowing seeds behind glass
While division is not a challenge even for beginner gardeners, sowing requires a little experience. Since the seeds are cold germinators, stratification - i.e. cold treatment - is required in advance in order to awaken the mood to germinate.read more
How do I transplant correctly?
Every 5 years, coneflower receives a rejuvenation treatment by dividing and replanting the perennial. You will be amazed at the effect this uncomplicated measure has on the plant's willingness to flower and its vitality:
- In spring or autumn, cut off the root ball within the radius of the plant height
- Use the digging fork to loosen the soil well to lift the plant out of the ground
- Divide the root ball into two or more segments that have at least 2 buds
Take this opportunity to take a close look at the roots in order to cut off and dispose of any bald, stunted areas. Then plant each piece of bale in fresh, compost-enriched soil and water generously.
Is coneflower poisonous?
The ingredients of echinacea have been important in folk medicine for generations. It is the essential oils, bitter substances and echinacin that have a healing effect on respiratory diseases or are particularly effective in wound treatment. Medicines based on red coneflower are also used for psoriasis. Prepared as a tea, echinacea also strengthens the immune system against colds and flu-like infections. Poisonous is therefore a property that does not apply to coneflowers.read more
Coneflower is not blooming
If coneflowers don't want to bloom, you can't avoid a dedicated search for the cause. We have put together the most common triggers for a lack of flowering here with tips for resolving them:
- Lack of light: move coneflowers to a sunny location
- Drought stress: Water the perennial regularly as soon as the soil has dried on the surface
- Nutrient deficiency: Supply the flower with compost or liquid fertilizer in April/May and June
Also, remember that perennials propagated from seedling only bloom after a few years. If your coneflower comes from sowing seeds, you should be patient for 2-3 years until the first flowering.read more
Beautiful varieties
- Summer Sun: Bicolor hybrid in red-orange and golden-orange with a wonderful scent; Growth height 80-90 cm
- Sunrise: The variety impresses with light yellow flowers and a compact habit; Growth height 70-80 cm
- Hula Dancer: The white ray flowers have a pink tinge and hang elegantly; Growth height 80 cm
- August Queen: Magnificent coneflower with purple-pink flowers on the dark stem; Growth height 80-90 cm
- Fatal Attraction: Impressive, rich red flowers on tightly upright stems; Growth height 60-70 cm
- Razzmatazz: Premium variety with lush double pompom flowers in purple pink; Growth height 80-90 cm
- Goldball: Majestic fence-peeper of the genus Rudbeckia with golden-yellow, bulging flowers; Growth height 180-200 cm
- Autumn Gold: One of the most beautiful varieties for vase cutting with yellow-red-brown flamed flowers; Growth height 80-100 cm
