Do Echinacea Seeds Need to Be Chilled?

Echinacea Varieties

• The genus Echinacea includes nine species, two of them are indigenous to North America. E. purpurea and E. angustifolia grow in the Eastern and Central United States and are most prolific in Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma and Arkansas. The most commonly cultivated species are E. angustifolia, E. purpurea and E. pallida. The most ornamental of these is E. purpurea.

Growing Echinacea

• This plant grows best in areas of full sun to part shade and in well-drained soil. A perennial returns year after year. It prefers moist soil, but is drought tolerant once established. The plant to 4 feet tall, and the stems are sturdy. The flowers, which bloom from June to September, are lovely in cut-flower arrangements.

Germination From Seed

• Coneflower seeds sprout better if chilled before germinating. E. angustifolia in particular is difficult to grow from seed unless chilled. In colder climates, the chilling, also known as stratification, is achieved by sowing the seeds on the surface of a sandy soil mix in an open, cold frame during January. The seeds can be carefully planted outdoors in the fall of the previous year, in a well-protected seedbed. E. angustifolia seeds require 90 to 120 days of chilling. However, E. purpurea and E. pallida germinate after being chilled for about 60 days. In warmer climates, the coneflower seeds can be placed in a plastic bag with a little moist peat moss and stored in the refrigerator for the required time before planting and germinating. After the chilling process, tamp the seeds into a soil mix, but do not bury them. Cover them with a light dusting of soil or light straw mulch. Echinacea started from seed can take 2 or more years to grow into a sizable plant, and the roots will not be ready for harvest for at least 3 years.

Propagating by Plant Divison

• Divide well-established coneflower in the spring or fall. The plants thrive if divided every 4 years or so. It is best to divide plants on cloudy days. Carefully divide the branching crowns from the main rootstock and replant them in pots or another area of the garden.