Cunflower originates from America where it grows on the prairies. It is a beautiful and striking plant that blooms from summer to autumn. This plant is also used in herbal medicine for its tonic properties. The purple coneflower is the most popular coneflower. The flowers are large and have a beautiful purple colour with a contrasting orange/brown eye. You can also tear this plant into pieces once every three years and replant these pieces. Coneflower looks a bit like a purple version of Suzanne with the beautiful eyes. This very fine cut flower can be placed in moist and dry soil. Very pretty when combined with annuals such as daisies. Very popular with bees, butterflies and other beneficial insects. Hardy perennial. Height: 80 - 120 cm.
Indoor sowing: half March- half April
Outdoor sowing: half April - half May
Germination: 8 - 21 days
Germinationtemperature: 18 - 20 °C
Sowing depth: 3 mm
Plant distance: 25 cm
Distance between the rows: 25 cm
Plant position: sunny - half shade
Flowering period: July - September
Sow indoors in a tray from mid March. Cover the seeds with a thin layer of seed ground. Coneflower is a light germinator. Keep the seeds well moist. Keep the germination temperature as even as possible. Especially at night, do not let the temperature drop. Cover the tray with a lid. Remove the lid as soon as the seedlings emerge. Mid May the seedlings can be cautiously hardened off and after about 10 - 14 days put in the open ground in their permanent place. Provide a sheltered and very sunny spot with good drainage.
Sow in the garden from mid April. Put them in a sunny place with possibly some shade. Thin out the seedlings as soon as they are large enough to handle. Keep a distance of 25 cm. Ensure a well-shaded spot with plenty of sun and good drainage. Remove weeds. Water the flowers sufficiently during dry periods. Pick the flowers in the morning when they are just opening for a beautiful and long lasting (1 week) bouquet. The flowers of coneflower are edible. They have a fairly spicy flavour. Use sparingly to decorate dishes, for example.
