Way back when, when I first started blogging and no one in their right mind read my little piece of the internet, I did a post where I showed photos of my Purple Coneflowers.
Since it was still a little snowy outside today and I'm feeling the need to at least talk about gardening even if I can't actually do any gardening, I decided to recycle my old photos (how green of me) and share my love of these perky flowers.
This variety is Echinacea Purpurea Doubledecker and is supposed to have another tiny coneflower perched on top, hence the doubledecker in the name.
Unfortunately, these guys never got the memo, so they look like your run of the mill coneflowers.
Purple Coneflower (Echinacea Purpurea) is easy to grow. I really do nothing to them besides cut the dead stalks down to the ground in late fall. You gotta love a no fuss, no muss plant.
Best of all, the color is magnificent (think dark pink rather than Barney The Dinosaur purple).
Plus the butterflies love them.
Here are the deets:
Perennial (comes back every year)
Grows in full sun to partial shade.
Hardy from zones 3-9.
Flowers from June through August
24" - 36" tall
Try some in your garden this year. Your eyes will thank you.
Linda @ Itsy Bits And Pieces
Beautiful photos, Pam! I love them, too! They don't bloom until very late summer here...always so pretty with the monarch butterflies that visit...
Snooks
Sounds like something that would go good here at our place. Who can argue with a plant that takes care of itself and attracts butterflies.
@ 3Beeze Homestead
Mary Ann
I love coneflowers, but so do the rabbits. After many frustrating years, I just gave up. But yours are very pretty.
nelda
What a great flower! And if you don't cut the dead stalks right away, the birds will come along and eat all the great seeds.
nelda
What a great flower! And if you don't cut the dead stalks right away, the birds will come along and eat all the great seeds.
TARYTERRE
Lovely flowers, for sure. GREAT pics.
Faye
They have always been one of my favorites! But then most flowers are my favorites especially if they are any shade of purple!
Musings from Kim K.
Sigh...I can't wait to start enjoying Chris's gardening and blooms. Keep spring dreaming. Thanks for sharing. They are some of our favorite flowers too.
Vickie @ Ranger 911
One of my favorites, too. I didn't plant the double-decker variety, but I've grown quite a few with one blossom on top of the other. I thought they were some weird mutated flowers! I've also got a few white coneflowers and I want to try growing the lime green variety this year, too. The only thing I've got growing in the small space where the snow has melted is a golf ball.
[email protected] Guide to Northeastern Gardening
Hi Pam. I just found your blog and am enjoying it! Purple Coneflowers are one of my favorites, especially for photographing butterflies. Your first photo is just beautiful!
Marissa
Hi Pam~
Love those Purple Coneflowers...
they really are easy..
I need to add more color and think these would look wonderful.
I just need some time...................
Melinda
So pretty! Waiting for the weather here to change
so we can plant.
M 🙂
Ida
They are pretty. I have some coneflowers but I think a double decker one would be a really fun edition and oh the butterflies, what an added bonus.
Shabby chic Sandy
I want some!
Cher-Ann Texter
Absolutely beautiful!!
Traci Christensen
I have tried everything to get these to grow! Have tried plants root bulbs and seeds but get nothing to germinate of sprout. Any tips?
Pam
Traci I've only bought them already sprouted out of the ground from the nursery, but I just sort of plant them and forget about them. I keep them watered a bit and fertilize them the first year, but really after that they are on their own unless we have a really dry spell. They're pretty drought resistant so they don't need a lot of care.
I do know they like well drained soil and you need to dig the dirt up around them when you first plant them (loosen the soil down about 12 inches so they have room to establish roots). Wonder if it's too wet where you are trying them?