Do coneflowers spread when you plant them in your garden? Reading this article will help you find the best answer.
Besides, I also give you useful information about this flower type, such as their height, the planting and caring methods for their best growth, the way they will spread, and how to control it.
In addition, you should also know the best time and place to grow these flowers and the conditions for them to develop the best.
Keep reading for more details!
What Are Coneflowers?
Coneflowers are one of largest wildflowers, growing in the central and eastern United States, from southern Colorado to Texas state and northern to the Great Lakes.
They often flower from midsummer until autumn.
The name coneflower originates from the cone-shaped flower center that attracts bees and butterflies, just like the center of sunflowers.
If you leave the heads of the seed after flowering, you can also attract goldfinches or other songbirds.
Do Coneflowers Spread?
Yes, they do. Coneflowers often spread by self-seeding to form bigger root clumps. Yet, they don’t conquer the garden via its spreading roots.
Also, these flowers may produce various seedlings each Spring, with their root clumps growing 12 to 24 inches in diameter.
However, runner roots don’t appear. Most of these flowering plants will spread after the plantation finishes.
Apart from self-seeding, their spreading process can occur via root division.
How Do Coneflowers Spread?
How does a coneflower spread in nature? It may spread in two main ways.
First, they may spread through the self-seeding method. Second, their spreading process may occur through the root mass.
Regarding the spreading of coneflowers, the self-seeding way is the most common.
Each coneflower includes petals and a central cone as its main attraction. Cones produce numerous seeds. Yet, coneflower petals contain seeds at the base.
These seeds will drop naturally into the ground without external impact. Then, the fallen seeds will begin to germinate the following spring.
Any species of coneflower is easy to spread with the self-seeding method. But some may spread through the root mass.
For example, purple coneflowers, also called Echinacea, can spread beyond the root mass. This coneflower type comprises fibrous roots.
Therefore, its spreading process will happen without the hassle via the support of root division.
How Fast & How Far Do Coneflowers Spread?
This also depends on the growth style and condition of coneflowers. These flowers often spread in clumps or a herd.
Yet, they grow fast, approximately 24 inches in diameter. After 3-4 years, you can divide them for better growth and care.
One of the drawbacks during their development is their easy tendency to spread. Thus, you should keep your self-seeding coneflowers not too densely to control them better.
How To Grow & Care For Coneflowers?
Planting
I have cultivated this plant many times in my backyard by buying a pot from a local shop, and it’s super easy to grow it.
Follow the simple steps to remove them from the available pot and plant them:
- Make a hole by digging about twice as big as the diameter of the pot.
- Loosen the root ball by banging on the sides of the pot. Remove your coneflowers from that container. Tread with caution not to hurt any root or the seedling.
- Insert the root ball into the digged hole.
- Use a proper soil and compost mixture to gradually fill and cover the hole to keep the plant’s crown high above the ground.
- Apply a thin mulch layer; be careful not to choke the stems.
- Supply your new coneflowers the water.
Apart from the above planting guide for the coneflowers in the pot, you can learn more about coneflower planting from seed.
Caring
Caring for these hardy plants is simple, but it must still meet some standard requirements and important notices to keep their blooming healthier each spring.
First, you must provide your coneflowers sufficient water for their best growth. After planting, the coneflowers require the proper water amount.
You should give them about 3 to 4 weeks until they take root. I also watered my coneflowers after I planted them successfully to support them to get a better establishment.
Aside from watering, remember to keep the light and temperature in mind to give your plants enough care. Coneflowers will grow best when they receive sunlight for at least 6 hours.
In addition, choosing the right soil for your coneflowers is necessary. These plants prefer loamy and well-drained soil.
Thus, consider this soil mixture if you want to plant your plants in a pot instead of transferring them to the ground.
Furthermore, using the appropriate fertilizer to add to the soil will help your plants grow faster and better.
You can choose the common slow-release type of fertilizer, such as low-ratio or plant tone, for the best growth.
How Can I Keep My Coneflowers From Spreading?
Coneflowers will spread and multiply by self-seeding. This feature is an invasion of nature. However, spreading too fast can harm the other plants in your garden.
Thus, monitoring and preventing your coneflowers from fast-spreading is significant. Below are some simple suggestions to help you control and restrict their spreading.
Identify The Right Time
First, it is necessary to determine the timing of the preventive process. You need to know when to initiate the essential measures to monitor and restrict coneflower from spreading.
In winter and spring, you must take some special measures to prevent the spreading of coneflowers.
Process Implementation
As winter sets in, prevention may begin through pruning existing coneflower blooms. You should prune the coneflower seed heads to help them avoid spreading and self-seeding.
Besides, you should also wait until spring to start pruning. You may prune these flowers in winter and leave them to rest. When spring season comes, keep pruning the rest of the coneflowers.
Alternative Methods
Cutting is possible even in summer. Coneflowers that have passed their peak season need harvesting at this time. Pruning coneflowers prevents the spread and reproduction of seeds.
Determine Size and Tools
When pruning your plants, determine the proper length you want to prune. Also, you need to decide which tool to apply when cutting. Sharp scissors can be effective for cutting.
You should prune your coneflowers from 1 to 4 inches. The larger one needs to be cut into pieces of about 4 inches. Meanwhile, you may prune smaller ones about 1 inch.
FAQs
When And Where Can You Grow Coneflowers?
The best time to grow coneflowers is in the spring when frost is over. Besides, you can plant these flowers in early autumn.
However, allow new coneflowers to take root for at least six weeks before the first frost appears. Otherwise, they may not germinate in spring.
Thus, if you buy the coneflowers from a nursery, grow them in spring or early summer.
Sowing may begin when the soil has warmed to at least 18°C (65°F) indoors or outdoors for about 8 to 10 weeks before the last frost in spring occurs.
Note that plants sown from seeds will bloom in 2-3 years.
In addition, grow your coneflowers in an area that receives at least 6 to 8 hours of sunlight daily.
However, in warmer areas (zone 8 and above), a little shade in the afternoon is helpful to prevent fading of the flowers.
These coneflowers also naturally develop in clumps. Thus, you should keep my tips above in mind to better control them.
How Big Do Coneflowers Get?
Multiple coneflower varieties come with various growth structures and sizes. For instance, purple coneflowers may reach from 24 to 48 inches in height.
Cheyenne Coneflower, Pink Poodle Coneflower grows up to 30 inches. Meanwhile, white coneflowers and Hot Papaya coneflowers can be 36 inches tall.
Plus, Avalanche Coneflowers will develop to about 20 inches in height. And Daydream Coneflowers’ height may be up to 24 inches.
Does Coneflower Need Full Sun?
Yes, it is.
Coneflowers need full sun to grow faster and better. They are hardy plants in zones 3 to 9, growing best and fastest in full sun.
These coneflowers may benefit from afternoon shade when you live in a place with a warm climate. As such, coneflowers will grow in partial shade.
If your garden doesn’t get enough sunlight, your coneflowers can not thrive best and bloom completely; they can even die.
Thus, you should trim off lush blooms to help your coneflowers receive the full sunlight to survive in the best condition.
The coneflower full sun will become healthier, giving you beautiful blooms like other flower types in your garden, such as Gerbera daisies.
Conclusion
Now, you’ve got the correct answer to the question, do coneflowers spread? The answer is yes; the coneflowers will spread in two common ways: self-seeding and root mass.
However, the most popular way of spreading is self-seeding, which can happen rapidly and widely if you don’t pay attention and find the proper methods to prevent it.
Aside from monitoring and preventing your coneflowers from spreading, you also need to know how to properly plant and care for your plants to help them always be healthy and grow best in your garden.
