If its flower heads are not removed in the fall, the blackened cones will be visited by birds that feed on the seeds. Rich in nectar, they attractВ butterflies and hummingbirds. They feature purple, drooping rays surrounding a spiny, dark brown central cone. Long-lasting, the showy blossoms are borne atop strong erect stems clad with coarse, lance-shaped, dark green leaves. Finches love the seeds as a source of winter food andВ the flowers attract butterflies and bees, too.A popular perennial, Echinacea purpurea (Purple Coneflower) is an outstanding herbaceous perennial boasting a profusion of large, daisy-like, purple coneflowers, 5 in. Piet Oudolf, garden designerВ for the Lurie Garden in Chicago's Millennium Park,В prefers this hybrid because of its superior performanceВ overВ other white Echinacea. Reasons to love it: Plant habits are upright and donвЂ™t require staking. Soil: Prefers average soil quality but can manage in a poorer soil. The double rows of petals make the blooms lookВ really full.Д«loom time: Mid-summer through fallвЂ¦continues to bloom after other perennials are finished for the year. Petals hang a bit lower than most so you can see the striking color combinations from quite a distance.ДЇlowers: Large &В fragrant, pure-white flowersВ surround a green cone. Reasons to love it: Not a finicky or uptight coneflower. Adaptable to most soil types but prefers a well-drained soil. Attracts butterflies, birds and is bee-friendly.ДЇlowers: What a way to add color to your garden! Bright golden petalsВ are painted withВ a fiery red halo around the cone.В The contrasting colors make this oneВ a memorable coneflower. It grows well in hot, dry areas and is deer resistant. Reasons to love it:В AВ real showstopperВ in the garden. Soil: Average, well-drained soilвЂ¦ tolerates dry soil. Water: Needs regular watering in extreme heat. Yellow petals mature to warm shades of apricot and deep rose.Д«loom time: Mid-summerвЂ¦ more than four weeks. Birds love the dried seed heads which also add interest to the winter garden, if left standing.ДЇlowers: This unique coneflower hasВ lightly colored, two-tone petals. Reasons to love it: Butterflies love them. Flowers are held atop a stron and bushy plant by nea-black stems.Д«loom time: June through August and beyond. Petal colors fade as the plant maturesвЂ¦turning into a smoky-rose tone. Attracts butterflies and bees.ДЇlowers: The flowers are large, single and fragrant with petals in almost redвЂ¦circling a dark cone. This 'clumping' coneflower is a blooming machine with multiple crowns and sturdy stemsВ that insure bigger and fuller flowering plants for years to come. Reasons to love it: Puts the вЂwowвЂ™ into garden borders, as well as containers. Soil: Thrives in well-drained soilвЂ¦tolerates poor soil. Drought-hardy & tolerant of heat and humidity,В once established. Birds love the seeds in fall.ДЇlowers:В Sunny double-yellow, daisy-like flowers with fluffy pomponsВ are real standouts in a perennial garden.Д«loom times: July, August, September, October Reasons to love it: Drought tolerant, deer resistant, attracts butterflies. AВ great orange colorВ for pollinator gardens.ДЇlowers: An improved form of вЂMagnusвЂ™ the most popular, purple coneflower of all time! Large flowers with magenta-pink petals surround a copper central cone are the focal point with deep green foliage playing back up.Д«loom time: Mid-summer, late summer, early fall, mid-fall Reasons to love it: Large flowers stand on top of sturdy stemsВ lined withВ deep-green foliageвЂ¦ a perfect combination for cut flowers. These coneflowers are aВ pollinator magnetВ and deer-resistant.ДЇlowers: Dazzling perennial with large blooms in vibrant, pumpkin-orange that turn to vermillion-red as petals mature. Reasons to love it: Tolerates drought, heat and cold extremes, dry soil. Start thinking about creating a new coneflower garden orВ keep it simple andВ add aВ new coneflower to your existing perennial bed every year.В Here are a few of ourВ favorites:ДЇlower Power:В Blooms withВ three colors at once! Petals beginВ with aВ peach-orange tone that deepens into magenta, and settles into a rich burgundy.В It's aВ compact plant with lots of branching, whichВ results inВ lots of blooms! Whether you are a long time fan of coneflowers orВ are just starting to notice them,В they can become anВ addiction, once you start collecting them.В Love the hot summer colors? Or, do you prefer aВ pastel or whiteВ palette? There is certainlyВ an Echinacea for everyoneвЂ¦В including the birds, bees and butterflies.

Will deer eat purple coneflower