Coneflowers, echinacea, are perennials. They do reseed sometimes. I haven't had much luck with that yet. I do have lots of returning plants from last year's seedlings that I started.

Thanks Token. I knew they were perennials but I thought it was only from seeds they dropped the previous year.

My "parent" coneflowers just started showing the foliage again last week. Seedlings may not have emerged yet. I have 'Prairie Splendor' and it is an easy one to grow from seeds. Last year, it was midsummer before I saw some of the seedlings emerge.

If you are referring to echinacea, these kinds are perennials and will come back year after year. They also get wider and larger. And they do reseed but not so prolific and are easily controlled.

I read somewhere (maybe here) that if you bury the whole seed head you would have better luck with germination. Mine are just now starting to come up, so I don't know if it actually worked or not. LOL!

I did as someone suggested last year (as blueberryhills said) and jammed the whole seed head into the ground. I have a kagillion seedlings (because of course I did it a bunch...LOL). The parent plants are also sending out purple shoots from the perimeter of the clump. I have 'Magnus' and 'Ruby Star.'

As an aside, I also have 'Pink Double Delight' in another location, and have been really happy with its performance. I thought I had lost all of its seed heads due to a rainy stretch in the early fall, but then I found one high and dry after the snow melted. I wintersowed them and have sprouts. I'm very happy about that!

Lisa

I always leave my seed heads for the goldfinches, so I rarely get new seedlings. maybe this year I will try burying one. Neat idea.

Oakley, I do not think they would be perennials if they only sprouted from new seeds, so you can expect the old plants to return. :)

Oakley,
I live in central Oklahoma.

I grow many varieties of Echinacea (Coneflowers).
They do reseed and do very well.
However, birds, especially finches, LOVE the seeds and in winter they will eat them if there is no other food available.

It is a little early yet for seedlings so you may see some come up later. But if not, this fall, remove the seed heads and disperse the seeds where you want them to grow. Leave a few seedheads for winter interest and the poor little wild birds. :)

Hope this helps.

~Annie

I don't normally notice seedlings, but last year I too left the seed heads, or at least some of them. Now I'm seeing lots of little babies.

I planted two Pink Double Delights last year, and don't see any new growth yet, although the rest of my garden has lots of new growth. Is it too early for coneflowers to be coming up in my area? I'm in 6a or 6b.

Some of Native Echinacea (established plants) came up weeks ago. Others just emerged today. The seedlings are usually a bit later.
My pink Double Delights came up two weeks ago and has expanded its base a little since last year. The Kim's Knee Highs (supposed to be Double Decker) are up and the Magnus and a white variety....Primadonna. I had 2 clumps of 'White Swan' for several years, but both died out. (too wet where they grew). I need to start those from seed again. I want the fragrant yellow, orange and reddish varieties.
The BACKBONE of my Garden for blooms in summer is no doubt made up of Coneflowers (and Phlox). They are visited by Butterflies, moths, hummers and honeybees galore all summer long. Their colors stay intense and they are sturdy, hardy and vigorous plants. My Country Cottage Garden would be pathetic without my them. ~Annie

Can you divide coneflowers? I have two from last year that I really like, but I don't remember what they were called. I was hoping to get two more for the other side of the garden :)