If anyone wants purple coneflower seeds...

[dragonfly]

I'm so glad to know they germinated. Any idea what the germination viability rate is?

[Jeffrey Todd]

I would guess somewhere in the 50% range. I feel that is pretty good considering that I had them in a dark closet for a few months and did no prep (scarification, cold exposure, soaking, etc.) I have another batch brewing in the soil now, so I'll have a little more data.
My wife is excited to see them coming up and can't wait to get them in the ground!

[dragonfly]

That's also not bad considering that I just went and picked old flower-heads off "whenever". I figured at least some of them were viable because they come up in my flower beds as volunteers.

[NeilV]

DF,

My wife planted some of the seeds and they are coming up.

She says thanks,

Neil

[lupester]

Dragonfly,
do you have any seed left? I am creating a 8' x 10' area or yarrow and some other coneflowers would be great.

Lupester

[jaglx]

Would anyone that got seed from dragonfly last year, be willing to send some my way this year? Please

[dragonfly]

Neil- glad they are sprouting. I'm seeing new ones all over my perennial flowerbed.

To the others who asked, I do still have some seeds left- just pm me a mailing address and I'll try to get them out next week.

[dragonfly]

Okay everyone- I'm out of seeds now- shipped out some packs today. Will have some more late in the summer after my plants have bloomed and the seedheads are dry.

[Hambone]

Are yours blooming yet DF? Mine are.

[lupester]

Whats the best time to plant the seeds?

[dragonfly]

Derek- mine look they will be blooming in a week or two. The flower heads are forming.

Luepster- the best time to plant is probably fall, but if you plant them now and keep them moist, they will probably survive and bloom next year. I don't plant any of them purposely, and they come up all over the perennial bed as volunteers, so I don't know the best time to plant for sure.

[lupester]

Thanks Dragonfly I just got mine in the mail!!

[jaglx]

Me too, Thanks dragonfly!

It's my way of trying to make the world a better place.

You put a smile on my face today, again Thks

[dragonfly]

You guys are both very welcome, and can have more seeds later in the summer if you want.

[Les Evans]

Is it to late to get in on this?
Would love to give these a try.

Thank You
Les

[dragonfly]

Les, I should have more seeds in July or August. They are just now starting to bloom, and will need time for the flowers to dry where I can harvest seeds. Just PM me sometime in mid or late summer with an address. I'm sure there will be plenty to go around.
If they grow in your area, you will probably really like them. I planted 6 plants about 5 or so years ago, and now they are all over my perennial bed and cover an estimated 30 or 40 square feet. They come up readily as volunteers, tolerate heat, and reportedly tolerate drought, although I water them about once weekly during the heat of the summer.

[Les Evans]

Will do dragonfly

Thank You
Les

[Loonerone]

I have these growing - I bought seed - please can you tell me how to harvest seed from the plant? I love doing that and never thought of it with these. I also have gold coneflower started this spring from bought seed - we'll see how that goes - be'd happy to share seed if I can learn how to capture it from the bloom!

Thanks, dragonfly

[dragonfly]

I have these growing - I bought seed - please can you tell me how to harvest seed from the plant?

It's easy with coneflower. Just let the old flowerheads dry on the plant until the top of the stem (where it connects to the base of the flower) turns brown. Cut the dried flower heads off, and either shake them vigorously, or do as I do, and cheat by manipulating them with your thumbs to force the seeds off. The longer you let them dry, the easier it is to get the seeds to shake loose. (I recommend gloves if you are going to remove them manually- they are quite prickly.)