Also known as Coneflower · 15k gardener saves
Echinacea: the varieties gardeners actually grow
Echinacea, the genus most gardeners know as coneflower. We track 190 varieties; these are the ones gardeners actually save and plant, ranked by real saves rather than catalog marketing. Each links to full care, bloom, and live price data.
The 12 most-saved Echinacea varieties
Of 190 in the catalog — ordered by how many gardeners actually grow them.
#1 most savedCheyenne Spirit Coneflower
Echinacea purpurea 'Cheyenne Spirit'
#2 most savedButterfly Kisses Coneflower
Echinacea purpurea 'Butterfly Kisses'
#3 most savedPurple Coneflower Rainbow
Echinacea purpurea 'Rainbow'
Cheyenne Spirit Coneflower
Echinacea purpurea 'Cheyenne Spirit Mix'
Purple Coneflower
Echinacea purpurea
Purple Coneflower
Echinacea purpurea 'Primadonna Deep Rose'
Double Delight Coneflower
Echinacea purpurea 'Double Delight'
Green Twister Coneflower
Echinacea purpurea 'Green Twister'
'Orange You Awesome' Coneflower
Echinacea purpurea 'Orange You Awesome'
Delicious Candy Coneflower
Echinacea purpurea 'Delicious Candy'
Magnus Coneflower
Echinacea purpurea 'Magnus'
Pale Purple Coneflower
Echinacea pallida
Browse all 190 Echinacea varieties →
How to grow Echinacea
What the Echinacea varieties in our catalog actually agree on — drawn from the care records of the 40 most-grown of them, not from a generic template.
The Echinacea year
- DeadheadJune–August100% of varieties
Deadhead only if desired; leave late blooms for winter seed heads for birds
- DivideMarch and September93% of varieties
Divide only when necessary (every 4+ years), as taproots resent disturbance
- Spring CleanupFebruary93% of varieties
Cut back old flower stalks and dead foliage before new growth emerges
- PlantMarch, April, September and October38% of varieties
Plant transplants in spring or early fall
- FertilizeMarch33% of varieties
Apply a light layer of compost or balanced fertilizer in spring
Do
- Deadhead spent flowers to encourage more blooms
- Water deeply during dry spells 🌱
- Apply a balanced fertilizer in spring
- Water deeply once a week during dry spells 🌱
- Deadhead spent flowers to promote continuous blooming
Avoid
- Avoid overwatering to prevent root rot ❌
- Avoid overwatering in winter ❌
- Overwater to prevent root rot ❌
- Avoid overwatering which can lead to root rot ❌
What goes wrong with Echinacea
| Problem | What you'll see | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Aphids | Sticky residue and distorted leaves | Spray with insecticidal soap or neem oil |
| Japanese beetles | Chewed leaves and skeletonized foliage | Handpick beetles or use organic neem-based insecticides |
| Japanese Beetles | Chewed leaves and petals | Use organic neem oil or handpick beetles |
| Powdery Mildew | White powder on leaves | Ensure good air circulation and apply fungicide if needed |
| Powdery mildew | White powdery coating on leaves | Improve air circulation and apply fungicide if necessary |
| Root Rot | Wilting and yellowing leaves | Improve soil drainage and reduce watering |
Making more Echinacea
Division
- Divide mature plants in early spring or fall, carefully separating clumps.
- Plant divisions immediately into prepared soil and water thoroughly.
Seed
- Tuck seeds into soil in early spring
- Keep soil moist for 2 weeks
- Germination occurs in 7-14 days
Echinacea questions
How many types of Echinacea are there?
The Sow catalog tracks 190 distinct Echinacea varieties. The most popular — ranked by 15k real gardener saves — are shown first above.
What zones does Echinacea grow in?
Across its varieties, Echinacea covers USDA Zones 4–9. Individual varieties differ — each plant page lists its exact range, and Sow filters the catalog to your zone automatically.
When does Echinacea bloom?
Most Echinacea varieties bloom in summer to fall, mid-summer, summer. Staggering early, mid, and late varieties extends the genus's season in one bed.
Which Echinacea should I choose?
Start from the most-saved varieties above — popularity across thousands of gardens is a strong signal of reliability — then filter by your zone and sun. In the Sow app you can preview any of them in a photo of your actual yard before you buy.
Keep exploring
More on Echinacea
Echinacea shows up in
Design with Echinacea in your own yard
Snap a photo of your space and see these varieties planted in it — sized correctly, matched to your zone, with care reminders included.
