Even though its February, its the perfect time to be thinking of flowers and plants for the next planting area you want to tackle in your yard. Coneflowers are one of the most dependable perennials you can plant.
I have planted many a Coneflower, and still have them in my gardens. They are sturdy (don’t fall over the ground), hardy (bloom til Sept or Oct) and glorious in color. They come in red, orange, white, purple and variations of all. The only thing to watch out for, is that pesky rabbit eating them.
Even someone starting to garden will feel like a pro after planting Coneflowers. And they need very little care. Just some sunshine and water!
I have a new small area I would like to fill with just Coneflowers. I was thinking of planting a few mature plants and then sprinkling some various variety seeds in between for future growth.
If you leave the flowers on the stems once dried, the seeds will blow in the fall and winter winds and start planting wherever they fall. This is especially good when planting a naturalized garden or in an area you want the plants to propagate freely. In a more organized garden, once the flowers have died and are pretty dry, deadhead and keep the seeds in a plastic bag. The seeds are the tan colored pieces. The darker pieces keep the seeds on the head. However, you can spread them all it wont matter. I would wear some of those thick kitchen plastic gloves though. The cone of the flower is pretty sharp and you can get poked pretty easily. I keep them til the next year in my shed and the next year you can plant anywhere you want and see what happens. The same think when the seed themselves. You will start to see little plants coming up which will give you years of pleasure.
If you are thinking of starting a garden in your home, start with Coneflowers. As with any other plant or shrub, pay attention to the height the plant will get. If your planting a circular garden, plant them in the middle and then plant shorter plants around it. There are many plants that go well with Coneflowers. Coneflowers are loved by birds, bees and butterflies, so your garden will have lots of visitors.
Some great companions of Coneflower are Globe Thistle, Sedum, Hyssop, Sea Holly, Culver’s Root or Monarda (Bee Balm). Be careful if choosing Bee Balm, it’s beautiful but spreads everywhere!
What ever you choose to plant in your garden, make sure you choose Coneflower! Pay attention to the heights on the tags and plant the shorter ones in the front and taller ones in the back. Vary different colors to have a beautiful garden all Summer long! Take cuttings to bring in the house for a beautiful arrangement, to the office or to church.
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