With their numerous flowers and color variations, coneflowers are among the most popular perennials in the garden, which bloom anew every year.
Coneflower perennial and hardy?
The coneflower can often be found in gardens and many interested people are surprised at the winter hardiness of the genus when planning. Don't worry, the coneflowers are a completely hardy species that can withstand temperatures down to -40°C and are therefore ideal for cultivation in Central Europe. In addition, the coneflower is not only hardy, but also perennial. Coneflowers are not considered adults until they are four years old. With good care, the plants will last for a long time and you will enjoy the hardy perennials.
Notice: In addition to the coneflowers, the common coneflower (bot. Rudbeckia fulgida) is also known, but it does not belong to the same genus. This also has an excellent winter hardiness.
Hibernate coneflowers: instructions
Due to the excellent winter hardiness, you hardly have to do anything to get the plants through the cold season. Especially with the specimens planted outdoors, the effort is significantly reduced, which means that even large beds with the perennials can be easily prepared. How to overwinter the Echinacea, see the following instructions:
- use clean secateurs
- sharpen as needed
- Cut the plant back to the ground
- under the age of 4 years: shorten to 10 to 15 cm
- Clean site of organic residues
After that, you can relax and leave the perennial plant to its own devices. As an option to pruning, you can simply leave the withered flowers where they are, as they will not die for the entire winter. Although they dry, the stems, leaves and flowers do not fall off. In this way you can ensure a decorative character in the wintry grey. It doesn't really matter which variant you choose. In the case of the bucket posture, it looks different. The roots can freeze due to this form of husbandry, which makes good winter protection essential. It is created as follows:
- cut back if necessary
- Remove plant debris
- Wrap the pot well
- suitable materials: brushwood, garden fleece, bubble wrap
- Cover substrate with mulch
- Raise bucket
- Use styrofoam board
The bucket can remain in its usual place, as the winter protection protects against the weather and temperature fluctuations. Don't forget to water the potted plants a little over the winter on frost-free days. Drying out is the greatest threat to crops.
Tip: With a bit of luck, you can even look forward to green stems and leaves in winter when it is mild. For this reason, you will still be able to encounter quite healthy specimens during the cold season, for example in wine-growing areas.