Identification

• Coneflower, or purple coneflower, is a large perennial flowering plant, native to the central United States prairies. It is a member of the sunflower, or composite, family, so it is very similar to the sunflower. The foliage stands 1 to 3 feet tall, with strong, hairy flower stems extending at least a foot taller than the foliage. It grows in hardiness zones 4 through 10, tolerating drought conditions and various soil types.
  
  

Varieties

• The coneflowers, or Echinacea genus, include the species of purpurea, angustifolia and pallida. All three have pink to purple daisy-like flowers with central cone-shaped heads that are usually, but not always, purple. Pallida has paler flowers and angustifolia has narrower leaves than the purpurea species. In recent years, hybrids in new colors have become available, but seeds from these new plants will not pass on their color traits.
  
  

Seed

• Flowers are 2 to 5 inches in size, with 12 to 20 drooping petals and a large, prickly center cone, similar to a sunflower. This is where the achenes develop and generally remain for weeks after they mature. Seeds of both the purpurea and pallida species are 4 to 5 millimeters, tan and elongated. The shape is exactly like an arrowhead, angular and with a point on one end. The opposite end is blunt and squared off. The seed of angustifolia is similar, except it has a dark band at the blunt end.
  
  

Seed Harvesting

• Harvest seeds in the fall before seasonal rains begin. Do not water plants after seeds begin to ripen. When seeds are brown and fully ripe, snip off coneheads from your most vigorous plants and allow them to dry in an open bucket out of the weather. Break apart the heads, being careful not to damage seed. Sieve or winnow to remove chaff.
  
  

Propagation

• Propagation from seed can be difficult, as the seed requires daylight and a long period of cold, oscillating temperatures. The USDA Plant Guide recommends scattering seed thinly on prepared soil in the late fall, giving the seed the time and weather conditions required for germination. Cover the seed with a thin layer of potting soil. These conditions can be mimicked by 12 weeks of alternating periods in the refrigerator and freezer prior to planting the seed. Mix seed with damp sand for this treatment.