Whether or not you’re designing a prairie or a easy, low-maintenance backyard, a coneflower could also be in your listing of crops. Not solely do these crops produce lovely flowers, however additionally they thrive with little care. When you’re on the lookout for crops to go along with your Echinacea crops, take a look at this listing of a number of the finest companion crops for coneflowers.
What Are Companion Vegetation?
Companion crops that supply advantages to their neighboring crops. These useful crops might entice useful bugs like ladybugs and hoverflies, enhance the soil construction, shade different crops from the cruel afternoon solar, or repel widespread pests.
It’s necessary to notice that what could also be thought-about a great companion for one kind of plant will not be an acceptable pairing for one more. That’s why wanting into the perfect companion plant for every species you develop is crucial.
Ideas for Selecting Companion Vegetation for Coneflowers
When selecting companion crops for coneflowers, I discover it useful to consider what coneflowers want and what issues they usually expertise.
First, let’s have a look at the circumstances the place coneflowers thrive. These crops favor full solar and well-drained soils, they usually can tolerate poor soil circumstances.
Meaning tall crops that shade coneflower or favor moist soils received’t be good companions for coneflowers. As a substitute, I like on the lookout for crops with comparable environmental necessities as coneflowers. For extra, see our in-depth information to how tall and extensive coneflowers develop for reference.
Subsequent, we are able to have a look at some points coneflowers face. Most forms of coneflowers are prone to assault from numerous pests, together with aphids and Japanese beetles. Selecting companion crops that entice pure predators of those pests might help your coneflowers crops stay wholesome.
10 Greatest Companion Vegetation for Coneflowers
Now that we all know what to search for in a coneflower companion plant let’s cowl 10 of the highest crops to contemplate.
1. Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)
The black-eyed Susan is one other perennial that loves the solar and might tolerate poor soils. And which means it’s an incredible companion for coneflowers.
Black-eyed Susans have comparable progress habits as coneflowers, which suggests the 2 crops will complement reasonably than outcompete one another.
2. Bee Balm (Monarda spp.)
I like to show to nature when on the lookout for appropriate companion crops for coneflowers. That’s as a result of crops that coexist collectively of their native habitats will usually develop nicely collectively in your backyard.
And since you will discover bee balm and coneflowers in prairies and clearings all through the Japanese United States, it’s not shocking these two perennial flowers make an incredible pair. The flowers’ differing shapes imply they seem to distinct useful bugs, which helps each species.
3. Coreopsis (Coreopsis spp.)
Often known as tickseed, coreopsis is a genus of flowering crops that may tolerate poor soils and drought. Their shiny yellow or orange flowers look nice paired with purple coneflowers.
And since coreopsis is as carefree as coneflower, you don’t have to fret about disturbing one plant whereas you take care of the opposite.
4. Blazing Star (Liatris spicata)
Blazing star, also called gayfeather, is a perennial plant that produces spikes coated with small pink or purple flowers. Because it’s a prairie plant like coneflower, it loves a lot of solar and might tolerate poor soil.
5. Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)
Yarrow is one other perennial plant that may thrive in poor soils and durations of drought, making them good companion crops for coneflowers. It produces tons of of tiny flowers that entice useful bugs like parasitic wasps, hoverflies, and inexperienced lacewings.
Whereas the grownup types of these bugs usually feed on pollen and/or nectar, different life phases assault pests like aphids and thrips. Planting yarrow along with your coneflowers might assist shield your crops towards pest injury.
6. Foxglove Beardtongue (Penstemon digitalis)
The Penstemon genus has many various species, however foxglove beardtongue is an particularly nice companion plant for coneflower. This species is native to prairies and forest margins within the Japanese and Southeastern United States, so it prefers comparable environments as coneflowers.
7. Baptisia (Baptisia australis)
Often known as blue false indigo, this perennial plant kinds a robust root system, which might help break up the soil. And since this species can tolerate poor soil circumstances and drought, it requires the identical kind of care as coneflower. These are additionally lovely companion crops for coneflowers.
8. Mountain Mint
When mountain mint blooms, you’ll usually see dozens of various species of bees, wasps, and flies flocking to the plant’s tiny flowers. Not solely can these bugs assist with pollination, however a lot of them additionally parasitize small pests like aphids.
That signifies that planting mountain mint by your coneflowers might assist preserve your crops free from aphids.
9. Blanket Flower (Gaillardia spp.)
A member of the daisy household, blanket flowers are a bunch of crops recognized for his or her many blooms and warmth tolerance. Though the crops are perennials, they have an inclination to solely reside for just a few years.
Nevertheless, they produce tons of flowers throughout these years, which suggests they’re a good way so as to add shade to your backyard in case your coneflowers are nonetheless getting established.
10. Butterfly Weed
With shiny orange flowers and a capability to outlive drought, butterfly weed makes a superb companion plant for coneflowers. Each crops can survive with out a lot care after they’re established, making them a great pairing for a local plant backyard.
Vegetation to Keep away from
It is best to keep away from planting quick, delicate, sun-loving crops subsequent to coneflower. That’s as a result of coneflowers develop fairly rapidly and might overtake fragile crops and shade them out.
You also needs to keep away from inserting crops that like moist soil subsequent to drought-tolerate coneflowers. Meaning cardinal flower, swamp milkweed, hosta, and marsh marigold are unsuitable companion crops for coneflowers.
Coneflower Companion Vegetation FAQs:
What Is the Greatest Place to Plant Coneflowers?
It is best to select a location that has well-draining soil and receives at the very least six hours of solar day by day. Coneflowers can tolerate soils which might be low in vitamins however don’t like moist areas.
Ought to I Deadhead Coneflowers?
When you don’t must deadhead your coneflowers, doing so will encourage the crops to supply extra flowers.
Are Coneflowers Native to the USA?
Many coneflower species are native to prairies and open areas in the USA.
Wrapping Up
When selecting companion crops in your coneflowers, search for crops that favor well-draining soils and plenty of daylight. Selecting crops with deep root methods and flowers might help enhance the soil and entice useful bugs.
For extra, see our in-depth information on methods to develop coneflowers for inexperienced persons and every little thing you might want to know concerning the coneflower blooming season.
Briana holds a B.S. in Plant Sciences from Penn State College. She manages a small market backyard the place she grows greens and herbs. She additionally enjoys rising flowers and houseplants at dwelling.
