Kim's Knee High coneflower

Sun

Full sun is best; tolerates light partial shade, but flowers less and may lean.

Water

Water regularly while establishing, then during prolonged dry spells. Established plants tolerate some drought but flower better with occasional deep watering.

Soil

Well-drained loam, sandy soil or improved clay; average fertility is sufficient. Avoid ground that stays wet in winter.

Height

1.5-2 ft (0.45-0.6 m)

Spread

1-1.5 ft (0.3-0.45 m)

Flowers

Midsummer to early autumn; rose-pink petals surrounding prominent orange-brown cones.

Foliage

Rough-textured, dark green, oval to lance-shaped leaves; dies back in winter.

Growth

Moderate; usually forms a useful flowering clump within two growing seasons.

Care needed

Low

• Pollinators
• Drought tolerant
• Cold hardy
• Heat tolerant
• Wildlife
• Low allergen

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Easy

Toughness

Very tough

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   1 ft (0.3 m)

2. After 1 year

   1.2 ft (0.37 m)

3. After 2 years

   1.5 ft (0.45 m)

4. After 3 years

   1.7 ft (0.53 m)

   full size

About 3 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Safe

Native to

the US

Growth rate

Moderate

• Plant with the crown at soil level in freely draining ground.
• Water deeply during the first growing season, allowing the surface soil to dry between waterings.
• Apply a thin layer of compost in spring; avoid heavy feeding, which encourages weak growth.
• Keep mulch clear of the crown, especially in wet-winter climates.
• Divide congested clumps in spring if flowering declines; routine annual division is unnecessary.
• Use a container with drainage holes and water when the upper compost dries; the short stems rarely need staking.

Pruning. Remove faded flowerheads during summer to encourage further bloom, or leave the later heads for birds and winter structure. Cut dead stems back close to ground level in late winter or early spring before new shoots develop.

Early spring

Cut down old stems before fresh growth develops and check that the crown has not remained waterlogged.

Spring

Plant or divide clumps, water them in and apply a thin layer of compost.

Late spring

Protect emerging shoots from slugs and snails where damage occurs.

Summer

Water during extended dry spells and remove spent flowers if continued flowering is the priority.

Early autumn

Leave some mature flowerheads standing for seed-eating birds.

Winter

Keep the crown free of wet debris and check that container drainage holes remain clear.

• Plant near the front of a sunny mixed border, where its flowers remain visible without obscuring shorter plants.
• Repeat small groups among ornamental grasses for a compact prairie-style planting.
• Combine with salvias and catmint for contrasting flower shapes and a long season of pollinator activity.
• Use in sunny containers with well-drained compost for a small patio or terrace.
• Retain seedheads among grasses and late-flowering perennials for autumn and winter structure.

Garden styles it suits: Cottage garden, New perennial (prairie), Pollinator garden, Wildlife garden, Small-space and Midwest prairie.

Plant it with: Catmint, Perennial salvia, Threadleaf coreopsis, Butterfly weed, Prairie dropseed and Little bluestem.

Wildlife: Flowers provide nectar and pollen for bees and butterflies. Seed-eating birds visit mature seedheads, especially when they are left standing through autumn and winter.

• Slugs and snails can eat emerging shoots: inspect at dusk, remove pests and use an approved iron-phosphate bait if needed.
• Crown and root rot can kill plants in wet soil: improve drainage, keep mulch away from the crown and replace badly affected plants.
• Aster yellows causes stunting and distorted, greenish flowers: remove and discard the whole affected plant; there is no cure.
• Powdery mildew may coat leaves in dry, crowded conditions: improve spacing, water the soil during drought and remove badly affected foliage.

Not known to be toxic to cats, dogs, horses or people. Eating plant material may still cause mild stomach upset, and handling or ingesting echinacea can trigger allergic reactions in susceptible people, particularly those sensitive to the daisy family.

• Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)

  Typical species plants have similar pink flowers but usually grow substantially taller; reliable identification of this compact cultivar is best supported by its label.

• Pale purple coneflower (Echinacea pallida)

  Usually taller, with narrower leaves and much longer, narrower, strongly drooping pale pink petals.

• Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)

  Usually has yellow or orange petals and a dark brown central cone rather than rose-pink petals and an orange-brown cone.

Echinacea comes from the Greek word for hedgehog, referring to the prickly central cone, while purpurea means purple.

Propagation. Divide healthy clumps in spring to retain the cultivar's compact habit. Root cuttings are another option; seedlings are variable and will not reliably come true to 'Kim's Knee High'.

Accepted botanical name

Echinacea purpurea

In the US and Canada

Native in the lower 48 states. Introduced in Canada.

Native range

Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana and Michigan.

Measured

Soil pH 6.5 to 7.2. Average height 70 cm.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0), USDA PLANTS and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.