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Growing Coneflower
These are tough and hardy plants, not bothered by disease and bloom very heavily for a long time in mid-summer. The question is really, "Why wouldn't you have them in your garden?" I confess I have grown almost every variety that is available on the market and love 'em all.
Growing Conditions
Full sun. They'll tolerate some early morning or late afternoon shade but this is a plant of the full sun garden if you want to see a heavy blooming plant.
Well drained soils. They don't tolerate winter wet, so do plant them where their feet will stay dry.
Fertile soils. While they'll grow on poor soils, if you want to see a blooming display, put them on a decent soil and give them a shovel of compost each spring. Stand back, because they're growing to grow fast.
Coneflower Hardiness
This is a USDA zone 3 plant with no problem. I've never lost one in zone 4 to winter conditions.
One of the best growing tips I ever received was from one of the breeders of this plant who told me to always prune a first year plant. As soon as that first year plant (the first year you plant it) gets to about 12 inches tall, cut it back to about 8 inches tall. This will force it to bush out and grow several stems. The extra energy from these stems will give it a bigger root and give you massive blooming in year two. If you don't cut it back, the plant will not grow as quickly.
Propagation
You can take soft cuttings from coneflower but most of the time we simply divide it in early spring. Division is the easiest and most reliable method for success.
Varieties
These are only a few of the new Coneflower introductions that are now flooding the market
'Magnus rose pink with flat flowers, excellent plant
Rubinstern is one of the larger forms easily reaching 100 cm (44-inches) in height with a dark carmine bloom with a dark orange tone
Razzmatazz is a new bright double pink form that is also a great garden plant
Sunrise a fine yellow with green-toned centers
Sunset electric orange blooms, fragrant
Orange Meadowbrite has sunset orange flowers
Mango Meadowbrite has a mango colored bloom
Vintage Wine deep purple with non-drooping petals. Excellent
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