By Eddie Smith
MSU Extension Service

I have enjoyed Echinacea coneflowers in my landscape for many years, and I find that these striking perennials bring a burst of vivid color to gardens.

While recently visiting the home of Dave Overturf and Ginger Wentz in Long Beach, I couldn’t help but notice the beautiful Echinacea coneflowers they have in their landscape. Their deep green, lance-shaped leaves provided a lush backdrop for their brightly colored flowers.

My favorite of these beautiful coneflowers was Echinacea PowWow Wild Berry, a stunning perennial that never fails to impress me with its vivid, berry-colored blooms. This coneflower variety is renowned for its exceptional color retention and prolific flowering.

Its large, daisy-like flowers with vibrant magenta petals surround a central orange-brown cone. This creates an eye-catching contrast. Each bloom can reach up to 4 inches wide, and they stand out vividly against the deep green foliage.

Another favorite of mine that my friends had in their garden was Echinacea Adobe Orange from the Sombrero series.

This perennial is a powerhouse of color, featuring large, daisy-like petals in a warm, burnt orange hue that encircles a prominent, dark orange cone. The long-lasting blooms can also reach up to 4 inches across and stand tall on sturdy, upright stems.

They are perfect for both gardens and cut flower arrangements.

I also loved the dazzling, sun-kissed blooms of Echinacea Sombrero Lemon Yellow Improved. This variety displays large, bright petals that radiate around a prominent, bright yellow-orange cone.

Echinacea coneflowers thrive in full sun and well-drained soil. They have excellent heat and drought tolerance. Although they can handle partial shade, they produce fewer blooms and may become leggy.

If their roots stay too wet, these plants will rot over winter. Although they prefer sandy or loamy soils with good drainage, they can adapt to clay soil if it’s amended with organic matter.

Echinacea coneflowers are beneficial for wildlife, particularly pollinators. I have always enjoyed watching bees and butterflies visit the flowers in my landscape. Echinacea seeds can attract birds, especially finches, which feed on them during fall and winter months when other food sources may be scarce.

Additionally, Echinacea coneflowers are not tasty to deer and rabbits. This trait keeps their vibrant display undisturbed in the landscape.

Blooming from early summer to fall, these plants are perfect for garden beds, borders, container plantings and cut flower arrangements. They offer a dynamic splash of color throughout the growing season.