Still having problems growing coneflower from seeds.. ):

Marvin R
by Marvin R
Ive been trying to grow coneflowers or enchinea from seed for the last couple of years.The ones ive started in seed pellets recently are milkshake,kims knee high,and hot papaya.Im yet to see a sprout.I actually bought a couple of plants last year and they died to.The nusery said that they do not have good luck with the hybrids either.They are so expensive but i am determined to grow some.Everyone talks about how easy they are to grow and they reseed so easy.This has not been the case for me so if you have any hints,tips,or tricks please pass them along to me.thanks
  3 answers
  • Douglas Hunt Douglas Hunt on Feb 19, 2012
    Marvin, there has been a coneflower explosion in the last few years, and I am not sure it is all for the better. With the exception of "Kim's Knee High," many of the varieties you list have not been around long enough to really prove their garden-worthiness, despite all the attention they have gotten. It is known, however, that many of the hybrids do not come true from seed. On the other hand, I had the old standby Echinacea purpurea "Magnus" in my New York garden and it readily re-sowed with no intervention on my part. So I do believe cold moist stratification will improve the chances of echinacea seed germination, because it helps mimic what happens in nature. To do this, mix seeds with an equal amount of a moist medium (like sand) in a closed container and store them in a refrigerator at about 40 degrees. Check from time to time to make sure the medium is moist but not wet. Good luck!
  • Patti @Hearth and Vine Patti @Hearth and Vine on Feb 11, 2015
    I've had success growing echinacea purpurea from seed. The hybrids are beautiful but as @Douglas may be a problem.
  • Suzette Trimmer Suzette Trimmer on Jul 21, 2015
    I recently discovered this marvelous perennial, Thus being one to contribute to the explosion. However; the temptation of their beauty was just too powerful for me to resist. Unlike Poor Marvin above I have had the opposite results from my tall pinks and my wide spreading reds. I cut the deadhead off right into a brown paper bag. Then go put the bag up on a shelf. I do this all summer wind up with about three brown lunch bags end of the season. Once they are dried out I shake the bags to loosen the seeds. I then proceed to plant these seeds in the fall while its's still warm, around Indian Summer. I plant the seeds anywhere I want them to grow or show up in spring. And by gosh, they have yet to disappoint. Maybe if you just try this with some seeds you might just have the same success, I am hoping anyway for you cause like everyone else I just love these flowers.