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Flowers · perennial
Coneflower (Echinacea) from seed
Echinacea purpurea · also searched as easy to grow coneflowers, echinacea
- Germination temperature
- 65 to 70°F (18 to 21°C)
- Sowing depth
- covered lightly
- Days to germinate
- 10 to 28 days
- Light
- Either; light is not critical
- Before sowing
- Nothing needed
- Start indoors
- 8 to 10 weeks before planting out
- Plant out
- 2 to 0 weeks before the last frost
- Sow outdoors
- 0 to 2 weeks after the last frost
- Spacing
- 18 to 24 in (45 to 60 cm)
Your dates from your last frost Seed not coming up?
Sowing
Johnny's: 10 to 15 days at 65 to 70°F; Iowa State says up to 3 to 4 weeks. Start indoors 8 to 10 weeks before planting out or sow direct in spring when soil is 65°F.
Care and transplanting
Plants flower in year two (sometimes year one from early sowing). Leave seed heads for goldfinches.
Problems
Slow, uneven germination is normal. Seedlings are fine to move when 2 to 3 true leaves show.
Saving seed
Collect dry cones; seed separates when rubbed.