Seeds · No. 02
Purple coneflower
Echinacea purpurea 'Magnus'
Saved on Itty Island · Fall 2026 · West 24th St & 10th Ave ·
The workhorse of any pollinator garden. Rosy-purple petals held out flat around a copper cone, blooming from early summer into fall and shrugging off heat, drought, and city grit. Once the petals drop, the cones feed the goldfinches.
- Type
- Native perennial
- Height
- 2½–3 ft
- Light
- Full sun
- Blooms
- June–September
- Hardy
- Zones 3–9
- Feeds
- Bees, butterflies, goldfinches
- Good for
- Tree pits, containers, sunny city beds
When to sow coneflower seeds in NYC Winter or spring. It forgives.
Timed for New York City. A month of cold improves germination, but it isn't strictly required, so you can also sow it straight into the ground in spring.
Sow outdoors: November to February, or April to May
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Start indoors: February to March
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How to grow coneflower from seed Five steps to a summer of cones.
A month of cold
Sow outside November through February, or keep the seed in damp sand in the fridge for about 30 days. Germination is noticeably better either way.
Cover lightly
Sow about ⅛ inch deep in seed-starting mix and keep it moist.
Warm and bright
65–75°F. Sprouts in 10 to 21 days.
Plant out in spring
After the last frost, in full sun and well-drained soil. It prefers lean soil to rich, and dry to soggy. Or skip indoors and direct-sow in April or May.
Leave the cones
It often blooms the second summer. Don't cut it back in fall; the seed heads are winter food for birds.
'Magnus' was the Perennial Plant of the Year in 1998, chosen for petals that hold flat instead of drooping. It comes reliably true from seed, so what you grow should look like what you saw on the island.
A note from the island
Questions Questions about growing purple coneflower.
Do coneflower seeds need cold stratification?
Not strictly. A month of cold noticeably improves germination, but you can sow straight into spring soil.
Will coneflower bloom the first year from seed?
Sometimes, late in the season if started early indoors. Expect a full show the second summer.
Does 'Magnus' come true from seed?
Reliably, yes. Seedlings should look like the parent.
Should I cut coneflowers back in fall?
Leave the cones standing. Goldfinches and other birds eat the seed through winter.
Is coneflower good for NYC tree pits?
One of the best. It's drought-tolerant, stays around 3 ft, and handles heat and street grit. Plant without adding soil above the existing level, and follow NYC Parks' tree bed guidelines.