How to Grow Coneflowers From Collected Seeds

Coneflowers, or Echinacea plants, do grow from seeds initially. As a perennial, once you plant a seed, you can expect to see the flowers emerging every spring. The coneflower, a favorite of gardeners, is sold nationwide across the United States in garden centers. Its flower is striking with the contrast between the petals and the center. When the petals drop, the center of the flower remains, forming a dry cone — hence the name. Snip a dried seed head and plant your own coneflowers.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

things you’ll need:

• Collection container
• Paper towel
• Plastic sandwich bag

1. Remove the seeds from a dried flower head. Work over a piece of paper or container to collect the seeds as they fall.
2. Wrap the seeds in a damp paper towel several times. Place the towel in a sandwich bag and seal it. Label the bag with the date and the seed name.
3. Refrigerate the seeds for six to eight weeks to break the cold dormancy of the Echinacea flower seed. Botanists call this process stratification.
4. Plant the seeds about 1/8-inch deep in moist loamy soil. If you plant them outside, wait until the temperatures have warmed into the 70-degree Fahrenheit range before you plant them.
5. Water the planted seeds just enough to keep the top layer of soil damp but not wet. Expect the seeds to germinate in about two weeks in most soils as long as the pH is between 6 and 8 and within USDA Zones 3 through 10. Most coneflowers take two years to establish themselves.