Coneflower (Echinacea)

Coneflower Plant Features

One of the best flowering perennials for sunny sites, echinacea, commonly called coneflower, is a snap to grow. These heat- and drought-resistant beauties develop wave after wave of blooms all summer long. Plus, coneflowers, are a top menu item for hungry butterflies which will flock to your yard to enjoy the nectar-rich blooms. Coneflower colors include pink, red, orange, white, and yellow. Most varieties have large single-petaled blooms, but double- and triple-flowered types are also available. Coneflowers grow 18 to 36 inches tall and are deer resistant. Hardy from zones 3-8.

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Coneflower Growing Instructions

Plant coneflowers in a spot that receives at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sun a day. They aren't too fussy about soil type, but prefer a rich, well-drained garden location. Remove the faded flower heads as they appear to encourage the development of additional flower stalks. Coneflowers also look terrific in containers.

Coneflower is not intended for human or animal consumption.

Water

Medium water needs
Light

Outside: Sun
Colors

Orange

Pink

Purple

Red

White

Yellow
Special Features

Attracts butterflies

Attracts hummingbirds

Deer/rabbit resistant

Super-easy to grow

Complement your Coneflower

Black-Eyed Susan
Black-eyed Susan and Coneflower are an easy-care pairing guaranteed to fill your garden with bloom.

Liatris
The tall, spiky flower stalks of Liatris combine well with the broad blooms of Coneflower.

Russian Sage
The blue flower spikes of Russian Sage and Coneflower are a pretty combination.

Our favorite varieties

Cheyenne Spirit

Echinacea 'Cheyenne Spirit'

You can’t go wrong with ‘Cheyenne Spirit’ coneflower. This award-winning variety mixes orange, yellow, magenta, and white flowers on compact plants that grow 2 feet tall. It blooms vigorously all summer long. Zones 4-9

Magnus

Echinacea purpurea 'Magnus'

An award-winning variety, Magnus coneflower produces masses of large, pink blooms with horizontal petals that don’t turn down. It’s attractive to butterflies and makes great cut flowers. Magnus grows 38 inches tall and 24 inches wide. Zones 3-8

Sombrero Salsa Red

Echinacea 'Sombrero Salsa Red'

Growing just 2 feet tall, ‘Sombrero Salsa Red’ coneflower produces bright red flowers on sturdy, upright stems that won’t flop over. It’s a gorgeous variety that works as well in containers as it does in the border. Zones 4-8

Sombrero Hot Coral

Echinacea 'Sombrero Hot Coral'

Strong, stocky stems keep the gorgeous coral-colored flowers of ‘Sombrero Hot Coral’ coneflower upright, even after rough weather. This super-vigorous variety stays in bloom all summer and attracts butterflies to your garden. ‘Sombrero Hot Coral’ grows 22 to 24 inches tall. Zones 4-8

PowWow Wild Berry

Echinacea purpurea 'PowWow Wild Berry'

This award-winning variety shows off 4-inch-wide rosy-purple flowers from early to late summer. Powwow Wild Berry grows 36 inches tall and 18 inches wide. Zones 3-8

Prairie Splendor

Echinacea purpurea 'Prairie Splendor'

Prairie Splendor is a tidy variety that shows off large, magenta-pink flowers from late spring to late summer. Like other varieties, it's a butterfly magnet. Prairie Splendor grows 24 inches tall and wide. Zones 3-8

Double Scoop Raspberry

Echinacea Double Scoop Raspberry

A double-flowering variety, Double Scoop Raspberry shows off fragrant, crested flowers in a lovely shade of raspberry pink. It grows 24 inches tall and wide. Zones 5-8

PowWow White

Echinacea purpurea 'PowWow White'

Easy to grow and beautiful, this variety shows off pure white flowers all summer long on a strong, healthy plant. It grows 30 inches tall and 20 inches wide. Zones 3-8

Hot Summer

Echinacea 'Hot Summer'

Hot Summer is a unique variety that shows off flowers that open a pinky-orange color, then become increasingly orange as they mature before starting to fade to a deep red. It grows 3 feet tall and 2 feet wide. Zones 3-8

Double Scoop Cranberry

Echinacea 'Double Scoop Cranberry'

You'll love Double Scoop Cranberry's rich, cranberry-red flowers and fluffy double texture. The blooms are both fragrant and attractive to butterflies. It grows 30 inches tall and 24 inches tall. Zones 5-8

Sombrero Sandy Yellow

Echinacea 'Sombrero Sandy Yellow'

Easy-care and gorgeous, Sombrero Sandy Yellow shows off pale-yellow blooms from late spring to early autumn (if spent flowers are removed). It grows 20 inches tall and wide. Zones 4-8

Sombrero Adobe Orange

Echinacea 'Sombrero Adobe Orange'

Loved for its abundance of rich orange flowers, Sombrero Adobe Orange coneflower starts in early spring and can continue through fall. It grows 20 inches tall and wide. Zones 4-8

Mooodz Joy

Echinacea 'Mooodz Joy'

A top performer in our South Carolina perennial Trial Garden, Mooodz Joy is a delightful newer selection that shows off tons and tons of big orange-pink blooms. If deadheaded, it continues flowering until fall. It grows 20 inches tall and wide. Zones 6-8

Mooodz Shiny

Echinacea 'Mooodz Shiny'

An outstanding variety that earned top marks in our perennial Trial Garden, Mooodz Shiny features large, soft pale yellow flowers that start in summer and continue all the way until fall. Like other coneflowers, it's a butterfly magnet. It grows 20 inches tall and wide. Zones 6-8

Sombrero Baja Burgundy

One of the best-performing coneflowers in our South Carolina Trial Garden, this variety is compact and produces an amazing number of dark red-purple flowers all summer long. It grows 24 inches tall and wide. Zones 4-9