My Coneflowers Are Turning Black

The coneflower is a hardy perennial flower that has bright purple petals emanating from a large seed head. Coneflowers, also known as Echinacea purpurea, do well in dry soil and grow wild in many areas of the American Southwest. The flowers are also treasured for their medicinal properties, such as treating the common cold, abdominal pains and certain body aches. The process of coneflowers turning black is a natural process and a sign that the flower is ready to be pruned.

Things You'll Need

• Pruning or garden shears

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Instructions

1. • 1

     Wait until the coneflowers start to drop their petals and begin to turn brown.

   • 2

     Use pruning or garden shears to cut the stems as close to the base of the stem as possible, down to the first set of leaves -- this is known as deadheading, and will lead to the development of new buds.

   • 3

     Retrieve the flower heads and remove as much of the seeds as possible. Place in an area to dry in order to germinate them and plant new cornflower plants; the seeds can also be reserved for birdseed.