How to grow Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)

Common problems

• No blooms the first year. Seed-grown plants spend year one establishing roots. Be patient; they bloom from the second year, or start with potted plants.
• Black, distorted growth on stems and flowers. Aster yellows, a disease spread by leafhoppers. Remove and destroy affected plants; there is no cure, do not compost.
• Flopping or crowded center dies out. Mature clump needs dividing. Lift and divide every 3–4 years in spring or fall.
• Powdery white leaves. Powdery mildew in humid, crowded sites. Space for airflow, water at the base, and thin if needed.