Regardless of whether it is from the Echinacea or Rudbeckia genus: the coneflower is a perennial, easy-care and undemanding flower that you simply can't get enough of. We explain how you can propagate the coneflower - both division and cultivation through seeds are possible. The most important thing is that you don't miss the right time in summer.
Multiply coneflower: collect the seeds in summer
The right time to collect coneflower seeds is in summer, just before the flowering period comes to an end. Allow the flowers to mature, the petals to dry out and the seed heads to turn dark brown. Then you can use the shootsCut off flowersand collect the seeds. It is best to do this early in the morning on a dry and sunny day. You need several flowers; you should cut out the others immediately after they have faded. The plant needs a lot of energy to produce seeds that it could otherwise use for something else.
Propagate red coneflower (Echinacea) via seeds
The seeds of the red coneflower sit in semicircular seed heads. At the end of the flowering period, the flowers begin to dry and then the seeds develop. Depending on the variety, these can be harvested in August and September.
Growing coneflowers from seeds: instructions
- First cut off the seeds and flowers.
- Carefully remove the seed heads and place them in a paper bag. Poke several holes in the bag so that air can circulate freely. Hang the bag in a dry, dark place and allow the seeds to dry for two weeks.
- Then take the seeds out of the bag and shake vigorously. Collect the fallen seeds and place them in a jam jar. Store airtight and dark until planting time.
- In January or February, fill the potting soil into a propagation box and add itSow seeds. The red coneflower is a light germinator, so only press the seeds on the surface.
- Place the propagation box in a bright, sunny spot outdoors. The temperature should ideally be between 0° and 5°.
- Fill a spray bottle with rainwater or decalcified tap water and spray the potting soil daily.
- After the permanent frost has ended, you can plant the young plants in the garden.
Propagate yellow coneflower: prefer Rudbeckia from seeds
In contrast to the red coneflower, the freshly grown Rudbeckia plants cannot tolerate frost and cold well. Proceed as follows:
- Steps 1 to 4 are the same: collect the seeds and let them dry for two weeks.
- Shake the seed heads vigorously until the seeds loosen and then store the seeds in an airtight and dark place.
- Fill the growing soil into the growing box, place the seeds on the surface of the soil and cover them with a thin layer of soil.
- Sow the seeds in the seed tray about 7 weeks before the last frost. Spray with water daily.
- The black-eyed Susan needs about 2 weeks until the end of the germination period. The optimal temperature in the room should be between 20° and 22°.
- The right time to plant in the garden is after the Ice Saints.
When to prick out coneflowers
About 5 weeks after you have sown the flowers and the young plants have already formed leaves, you can prick out the coneflower.
Multiply coneflower: This is how you can sow seeds outdoors
You can also propagate the coneflower by sowing it outdoors. Repeat steps 1 to 4 and plant the coneflower seeds in mid-April. It is worth first sowing the seeds in a seed box for a few days and then placing the box outdoors, protected from the wind and in the shade. This will allow the seeds to slowly get used to the weather outside.
Share sun hat: step-by-step instructions
Alternatively, you can also propagate the coneflower by division. This should be done in spring. The easiest way to divide is with annual coneflowers that produced flowers for the first time in the same year. Proceed as follows:
- Dig up the plant carefully.
- Loosen the potting soil from the roots and cut the roots in two with a sharp knife.
- For heavily rooted old plants, you can help with clean pruning shears. Every new plant should have both roots and new shoots.
- Compost into the garden soilincorporate into the flower bed.
- Dig holes 60cm apart and plant the plants as deep in the soil as the mother plant originally grew.
The coneflower is a flowering plant that is easy to propagate. You should adhere to a few basic rules:
- Collect seeds in late summer, let them dry and store them airtight and dark.
- Prefer the young plants in spring. Coneflowers germinate in light, but the room temperature can vary greatly depending on the variety.
- Division takes place in spring; annual coneflowers are best divided.
