Echinacea in Zone 7A — Pacific Northwest

Echinacea, also known as coneflower, is a fantastic addition to any Pacific Northwest garden. Its daisy-like flowers bring vibrant color to your garden during our mild summers and cool nights, and they attract beneficial pollinators. Plus, you can harvest the petals for teas, adding a homegrown herbal remedy to your pantry.

While we might struggle with heat-loving plants in our region, Echinacea thrives with our conditions. Our 183-day growing season provides plenty of time for them to mature, whether you start from seed or transplant. With a little planning, you can enjoy these beautiful, useful flowers in your garden.

Starting Echinacea indoors can give you a jump start, especially if you want blooms as early as possible. Start your seeds indoors from mid-February through early March, about eight weeks before you intend to transplant them outdoors. Use seed trays with a good seed-starting mix, and keep them warm (around 70°F) until germination.

Bottom watering is ideal to avoid damping off, which can be a problem during our overcast spring days. Once seedlings emerge, provide plenty of light – a grow light works wonders, as our spring sunlight can be a bit weak. Keep in mind that Echinacea needs cold stratification to germinate well, so you might have better luck with direct sowing or buying starts.

Transplanting Echinacea outdoors should happen from mid-April through mid-May, once the danger of hard frost has passed. Before planting, harden off your seedlings by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions for about a week. This helps them adjust to the temperature swings and stronger sunlight.

Space your plants 18-24 inches apart to allow for good air circulation, which can help prevent powdery mildew. Our wet springs can sometimes lead to cool soil temperatures, so consider planting in raised beds or mounds to improve drainage and warmth. Echinacea is a perennial, but starting with established plants from a local nursery might be easier than starting from seed.

Direct sowing Echinacea is a viable option, especially if you're aiming for a more naturalized look in your garden. Sow seeds from mid-April through early July, once the soil has warmed up a bit. Echinacea seeds need cold stratification, so fall sowing can also work.

Prepare the soil by loosening it and removing any weeds. Sow seeds about ¼ inch deep and keep the soil consistently moist until germination. Thin seedlings to 18-24 inches apart. Direct sowing can be a bit slower than transplanting, but it eliminates the need for indoor setup and hardening off.

Echinacea is very drought-tolerant once established, making it a great choice for our dry summer months in the Pacific Northwest. During the first growing season, water regularly to help them develop a strong root system. After that, you can ease up considerably.

A good rule of thumb is to check the soil moisture about two inches deep – if it feels dry, it's time to water. Typically, an inch of water per week is plenty, especially after the first year. Water at the base of the plant to avoid wetting the foliage, which can encourage powdery mildew in our dry-summer climate.

Overwatering can be just as harmful as underwatering, so watch for signs like yellowing leaves or mushy stems. Adding a layer of mulch around the base of the plants can help retain moisture and suppress weeds, but avoid piling it up against the stems, which can promote rot. Remember, Echinacea thrives in poor, dry soil, so don't pamper it too much!

Pruning Echinacea is straightforward and mostly involves deadheading to encourage more blooms. Throughout the growing season, from midsummer into fall, remove spent flowers by cutting the stem just below the flower head. This directs the plant's energy into producing new flowers rather than seeds.

However, consider leaving some seed heads on the plants as the season winds down. They provide food for birds like goldfinches during the winter months and add visual interest to your garden. In late winter, before new growth begins, cut back the entire plant to the ground to tidy it up and prepare for the next growing season.

You can expect your first Echinacea harvest from mid-July through late October, about 90 days after planting. The flowers are ready to harvest when they are fully open and the petals are vibrant. You can harvest the petals for tea by gently pulling them from the flower head.

To harvest, cut the stems just above a leaf node, leaving several inches of stem on the plant to encourage continued production. Echinacea flowers continuously throughout the summer and fall, so you can harvest multiple times. Remember to leave some seed heads for the birds.

As the first frost approaches around mid-October, you can harvest any remaining flowers and seed heads to dry for later use. Store dried petals in an airtight container in a cool, dark place. The seed heads can be saved for planting the following year or left in the garden for winter interest and bird food.

Echinacea is generally a hardy plant, but here are a few problems you might encounter in the Pacific Northwest:

Aster Yellows

• What it looks like: Distorted, greenish flowers and stunted growth. The plant may develop abnormal clusters of growth.
• What causes it: A phytoplasma (bacteria-like organism) transmitted by leafhoppers.
• How to fix/prevent it: Unfortunately, there is no cure. Remove and destroy infected plants to prevent the spread. Control leafhopper populations with insecticidal soap.

Powdery Mildew

• What it looks like: White or grayish powdery coating on leaves, stems, and sometimes fruit. Leaves curl, yellow, and die. Reduces plant vigor.
• What causes it: Various fungi that thrive in warm days, cool nights, and moderate humidity. Dry leaf surfaces actually favor it.
• How to fix/prevent it: Improve air circulation through spacing and pruning. Remove affected leaves. Neem oil or potassium bicarbonate sprays help. Milk spray (1 part milk to 9 parts water) is surprisingly effective. Plant resistant varieties.

Japanese Beetles

• What it looks like: Metallic green beetles that skeletonize leaves, leaving a lacy appearance.
• What causes it: Japanese beetle larvae feed on grass roots, and the adults are voracious eaters of many plants.
• How to fix/prevent it: Handpick beetles and drop them into a bucket of soapy water. Neem oil can deter them. Introduce beneficial nematodes to control larvae in the soil.

Pacific Northwest Specific Challenges: Our mild heat and dry-summer climate can actually benefit Echinacea by reducing the risk of fungal diseases compared to more humid regions. However, our cool soil in spring can slow down initial growth, so be patient. Slugs can also be a nuisance, especially for young plants, so use slug bait or other control methods as needed.

Echinacea benefits from companion planting, especially with plants that attract pollinators or deter pests. Tomatoes and peppers make good companions because they enjoy similar full sun conditions. The strong scent of herbs like rosemary and thyme can help deter pests that might bother Echinacea.

Avoid planting Echinacea near aggressive spreaders that might compete for resources. In our region, be mindful of plants that attract slugs, as they could also target your Echinacea.