Coneflower

Coneflower

Echinacea purpurea

Plant out around your last spring frost. Space plants 18 in (46 cm) apart.

Photo: Krzysztof Golik, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source

When to plant

Timed from your frost dates, so it holds wherever you garden. Give yours and every step below becomes a date.

See the dates for your garden

Enter your average last spring frost and first fall frost. Every timing on this site turns into a calendar date. Not sure of yours? Your local extension service or a search for “last frost date” and your town will tell you; the app finds them from your location.

Last spring frost
First fall frost

Saved in this browser only. Nothing is sent anywhere.

Optimal Transplant (Starter Plant)

From a plantRecommended from a plant
  1. Plant outaround your last spring frost
  2. First harvestsummer-fall, once established

Optimal Indoor Start (Stratified)

From seedRecommended from seed
  1. Start indoors10 weeks before your last spring frost
  2. Begin hardening off1 week before your last spring frost
  3. Plant outaround your last spring frost
  4. First harvestsummer-fall, once established

Optimal Direct Sow (Spring)

From seed
  1. Sow outdoorsaround your last spring frost
  2. First harvestsummer-fall, once established

Optimal Dormant Fall Direct Sow

From seed
  1. Sow outdoors3 weeks after your first fall frost
  2. First harvestsummer-fall, once established

Growing coneflower

Spacing in the row
18 in (46 cm)
Between rows
24 in (61 cm)
Planting depth
1/4 inch
Sun
Full Sun
Soil
Well-drained, average to poor soil, pH 6.0-7.0
Germination
10-21 days at 65-75°F
Harvest season
Summer-Fall
Mature height
24-48 inches
Hardy to
USDA zone 3
Life cycle
Perennial

Sow stratified seeds 1/4 inch deep indoors 12 weeks before last frost or direct sow after last frost.

Watering. Keep consistently moist until germination; established plants are drought tolerant.

Neighbours

The companion chart →

Grows well beside

Feeding

Seedlings
Light liquid feed once true leaves appear.
Growing
Generally not required; annual compost top-dressing is beneficial.
Flowering and fruiting
Not specific; healthy soil supports robust blooms.
How often
Once a year, in early spring, with compost.
Note
Avoid over-fertilization, which can lead to leggy growth and reduced flowering.

Your coneflower, planned to the day.

Canopy turns these timings into dates from your own frost data, places every plant at its spacing on your garden map, and tracks it all the way to harvest.

Add coneflower to your planting calendar →

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