purple coneflower

Purple coneflowers should be watered regularly to keep the soil slightly moist at all times. Water the plant once every week or 2, and make sure that the top 2 to 3 inches of soil feels dry before adding more water. This plant tends to prefer a light amount of water, so it’s important not to overwater. Water slowly and deeply until water is draining from the bottom of the pot or the base of the plant. This ensures that the roots are absorbing the water they need.

Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea 'Fatal Attraction') should receive about 4 to 6 hours of direct sunlight each day for optimal growth. The plant can grow in partial shade, but should never remain in total shade for extended periods of time. During the winter, the plant should avoid direct sunlight, and remain in partial shade instead. If necessary, move the plant to a brightly lit location for smaller periods of time, such as 2 to 3 hours per day. However, in the summer, ample sunlight is essential for the plant’s growth. To avoid sunburns, it is best to introduce Echinacea to direct sunlight slowly, by gradually increasing the amount of time spent in the sun over several weeks.

Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea 'Fatal Attraction') should be pruned in late winter or early spring at the beginning of their growing season. Though you may need to clip off dead or damaged flower stems as needed throughout the summer, the bulk of pruning should occur in the late winter or early spring. Since this species is a perennial, the best time to prune is after the coldest temperatures of the year have passed. This will give the plant a healthy start to the growing season and vitalize new blooms come summer. When pruning your purple coneflowers, trim the plants to anywhere between 6-12 in (15-30 cm) to encourage bushier, more compact plants and more abundant flowers. Deadhead regularly to encourage new blooms throughout the growing season. Remove spent flower heads without cutting back into the foliage. To reduce the chance of disease or pest infestation, dispose of spent stems and blooms to the compost bin.