How to Germinate Purple Coneflower Echinacea

Echinacea purpurea is known to many gardeners by its common name, purple coneflower, which refers both to the color and shape of the large, showy flowers. The highly ornamental appearance and butterfly-attracting properties of purple coneflower make it a suitable addition to many gardens, and it is widely cultivated across the United States. Several propagation methods are used to grow purple coneflower, but seed germination provides one of the most reliable means of creating new plants. However, seed-grown echinacea plants sometimes take up to two years to bloom and may exhibit color variations in the flowers.

3.5-inch starter pots
Loam
Compost
Perlite
1-inch-deep tray
Propagation mat

Instructions

- 1
  Fill 3.5-inch starter pots with a soil mixture made up of 3 parts loam, 2 parts compost and 1 part perlite for added moisture retention.
- 2
  Sow one purple coneflower seed in each starter pot. Cover the seeds with a 1/4-inch-deep layer of soil. Firm the soil onto the seed to squeeze out any trapped air.
- 3
  Place the starter pots on a 1-inch-deep tray to make handling or moving them easier. Position the tray near a large, unshaded window that receives at least eight hours of bright light each day.
- 4
  Place a propagation mat under the tray to provide bottom-heat to the purple coneflower seeds. Set the propagation mat to between 70 and 75 F during the day. Turn off the propagation mat at night.
- 5
  Pour 1/4 cup of water onto the soil in each starter pot. Water the purple coneflower seeds with 1/4 cup of water whenever the soil dries out in the top quarter-inch. Avoid making the soil in the starter pots too soggy.
- 6
  Watch for germination in 10 to 20 days. Remove the propagation mat one week after the purple coneflower seeds have germinated.

How to Make a Climbing Plant Grow Faster

How to Make Hanging Succulent Boxes

Growing Plants