Purple Coneflowers (botanically known as *Echinacea*) are the absolute stars of the summer garden, creating a sea of blooms if they get the right start. If you want that lush, vibrant look, timing is everything—and the best time to plant actually depends on how you’re growing them.
Garden Plants
If you’ve picked up some pre-grown coneflowers in pots from the nursery, you can technically tuck them into your perennial bed in the fall, spring, or even summer.
Fall
Most gardeners agree that fall is the gold standard for planting coneflowers. Here’s why:
- The soil is still nice and warm from the summer sun.
- Warm soil makes it much easier for the roots to establish themselves.
- You’ll often get a beautiful show of flowers the very next year.
Since warm soil is the secret sauce for planting in the fall, your window is usually from late September to early November. Just keep an eye on your local weather—you want to get them in the ground before those heavy overnight frosts start moving in.
Spring
If you prefer spring planting, the earlier the better! February or March is usually ideal, provided the ground isn’t frozen solid and you aren’t expecting any more deep freezes.
However, if you’ve been starting seeds indoors, don’t rush them outside. Wait until mid-May (after the last frost) to transplant those tender babies into the garden.
Summer
While summer isn’t the traditional time to plant, you can totally do it if you find an irresistible Echinacea at the garden center in July. Just be prepared to be a bit of a “water helicopter parent” until they get settled.
What about cold and frost protection?
Generally speaking, coneflowers are tough as nails when it comes to winter. How much cold they can handle depends on the specific variety and how old the plant is. Native species are incredibly hardy, sometimes surviving temperatures as low as -40°F! However, be a little more careful with fancy new hybrids; they usually only handle temperatures down to USDA Zone 7 (about 0°F to 10°F).
Container Plants
When you grow coneflowers in pots, the roots are much more exposed to the elements. Because of this, it’s best to plant your containers in the spring. Aim for February or March—just as the weather starts to mellow out but before the plant starts its big spring growth spurt.
Of course, you can pot up Echinacea later in the season too. Just keep in mind that buying larger, fully-grown plants is usually a bit harder on the wallet than starting small in the spring!
