![]() Therefore, you should cut the stem of the spent flower just above the top leaf node. Coneflowers will continue to produce flowers from leaf nodes. When the petals begin to fade in color and the middle of the flowers starts to darken, the flowers are considered spent. To deadhead your coneflower plant, follow these steps. When’s the Best Time to Deadhead Coneflowers? And when these flowers fade, you can deadhead them to encourage even more shoots! The end result is a voluminous plant. However, each time you remove a spent flower, you encourage the plant to produce lateral shoots.Įach of these shoots will eventually produce flowers. If you forego deadheading, your coneflower plant will continue producing new stalks topped with a few flowers. If you’d like to create a large coneflower patch or meadow, deadheading can increase the time this will take. Of course, this could be a pro or con, depending on your goals. This prevents the seeds from spreading and developing into new plants. When you deadhead, you remove the flowers before they produce viable seeds. If you want to keep your coneflower plants contained in a small area, deadheading can help accomplish this. This can keep your plant blooming throughout the summer and early fall. Since the plant doesn’t have to put energy into producing seeds, it can send energy to produce more flowers. If you do so, you remove the flowers before they produce seeds. When you deadhead, the goal is to remove flowers as soon as they begin to fade. One of the main reasons people choose to deadhead coneflowers and other plants is to encourage the plants to produce more flowers ( fertilizing coneflowers can also help). Pros Encourages Plants to Produce More Flowers If you’d like to plant your coneflower and forget about it, deadheading may not be the best choice for you. One of the many reasons gardeners love coneflowers is for their easy-to-care-for nature! While deadheading isn’t difficult, it does involve some time. Some newer hybrid cultivars don’t produce many seeds, so if you deadhead these varieties, the birds won’t lose out. ![]() However, you should remember that seed production can vary between varieties. Birds that eat coneflower seeds include goldfinches, juncos, chickadees, and more. Once the flowers set seed, birds flock to eat the seeds. While pollinators like bees and butterflies love the nectar and pollen, these flying critters aren’t the only ones who love the flowers. Many people plant coneflowers not only for their beauty but also for their benefit to wildlife. Not only does this remove unsightly flowers, but it can also encourage the plant to produce new blooms.ĭeadheading is a form of pruning, but the main goal is to remove old flowers rather than impact the shape or size of the plant. What is Deadheading?ĭeadheading refers to the process of removing flowers that are done blooming. The flowers form on long stems that emerge from the base of the plant. Bees, butterflies, and other pollinators often visit the flowers.Ĭoneflower plants typically grow three to four feet tall. The petals bend downwards from the center of the flower.Ĭoneflowers bloom in an array of colors, including purple, red, orange, pink, green, or other colors. Each flower has spiky, raised centers, which leads to the name coneflower. Although they die back in the winter, they will reemerge the following spring again.Ĭoneflowers are known for their large flowers. In their native ranges, coneflowers grow as perennials. They grow in open prairies as well as sparsely wooded forests. They’re prized for their ornamental value and also look beautiful as a cut flower for a vase or bouquet arrangement.Īll coneflower species are native to the Eastern United States, extending east from the Rocky Mountains to the Atlantic Coast. They are all members of the daisy family ( Asteraceae). ![]() Coneflowers refer to a group of plants in the Echinacea genus.
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