Tip #2: Coneflowers (Echinacea)
If you want rugged durability combined with striking beauty, coneflowers are indispensable perennial flowers for your yard. Native to North American prairies, these tough plants feature distinctive drooping petals surrounding a prominent, spiky central cone. They bring a classic, meadow-like charm to your flower beds while requiring surprisingly little maintenance once established.
Coneflowers send down deep taproots, allowing them to access moisture far below the soil surface during prolonged dry spells. You should plant them in full sun and avoid over-amending your soil; coneflowers actually perform better in lean, unfertilized dirt. Heavy applications of nitrogen will lead to floppy, weak stems that topple over in the wind.
These long blooming flowers serve a dual purpose in the ecosystem. During the summer, their wide landing pads attract butterflies and native bees. As summer transitions into fall, you can skip deadheading and leave the seed heads intact. Goldfinches and other songbirds will visit your garden to feast on the nutrient-dense seeds throughout the cold winter months.
13 Responses
Great information on flowers that bloom all summer.
Thank you,
Darlene
Where’s the article. All I get is ads for edging
It’s located on the first page. There’s the pic of flowers and a gold link that sez “See Flowers”. Tap on that and your first of 12 flowers is zinneas. At the end of that part, click on the green 2 so be taken to the next flower info. Continue until you have seen all 12 flowers.
Thank you very much for that explanation. With all of the ads and clickbait, I never would have gotten past Zinnas.
Thanks for the wonderful tips. I’m running a little behind schedule in extending my summer garden but will definitely incorporate these ideas.
I would like info on where can I buy the seeds or plant of LANTANA and MARIGOLD please
I’ve got Lantana growing along my driveway and front yard. I would live to send you some.
If you have plenty could yiu send me some as well? I am trying to get my yard and house looking good, after years of neglect from the previous owners. Thank you in advance. My address is 2104 NE 101 Andrews, Tx 79714.
vinca, all summer until frost, and withstand hot sun, and pretty good when it dry
I can only see two flowers. What am I doing wrong?
AT the bottom of each flower info there are numbers in a horizontal column from 1 thru 12. Just click on the next number and the next flower will show up. Repeat the process until you have finished reviewing all of the flowers.
What is the best fertilizer in liquid form that is good for flowers?
This isn’t for Zone 10. Even the people in Phoenix are starting to wilt.