When to Plant Echinacea (Coneflower)
Native prairie flower producing daisy-like blooms beloved by butterflies and bees. Extremely drought-tolerant and long-lived.
The Short Answer
How to Grow Echinacea (Coneflower)
Edamame are young soybeans harvested while still green and tender — the same bean that becomes tofu, soy sauce, and miso when mature. Direct sow only; don't transplant. All pods on a plant ripen simultaneously, making harvest easy — pull the entire plant when 90% of pods are plump and bright green. Boil in salted water for 5 minutes, then pop beans from pods. The window between 'ready' and 'too mature' is only about a week, so check plants daily as harvest approaches. Envy and Midori Giant are the best-flavored garden varieties.
Starting Seeds Indoors
Begin echinacea (coneflower) seeds indoors 8 weeks before your average last frost date. Seeds need soil temperatures of at least 55°F to germinate, which typically takes 10-20 days. Provide 12 hours of light per day using a south-facing window or grow lights.
Transplanting
Move seedlings outside 0 weeks after your last frost date, once soil temperatures reach 55°F. Harden off seedlings for 7 days before transplanting by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions.
Direct Sowing
Echinacea (Coneflower) can be direct sown 0 weeks after your last frost date. Plant seeds 0.25" deep, spaced 18" apart.
Growing Tips
Leave spent flower heads standing through winter for bird food and winter interest. Naturalizes and self-seeds in prairie conditions. Purple coneflower (E. purpurea) is the easiest species. Once established, essentially maintenance-free.
Companion Planting
Good companions:
Echinacea (Coneflower) Planting Dates by State
Click your state for echinacea (coneflower) planting dates specific to your location:
Last reviewed: March 29, 2026