Sweet Coneflower

Year-round

Sweet coneflower is a tall native perennial with anise scented yellow flowers that grows naturally in the Ouachita Mountains around Hot Springs and does well there with simple care.

• Plant in full sun, getting at least 6 hours of direct sunlight a day, in average to moist soil that drains well.
• It grows 3 to 5 feet tall on branched stems, so give it room toward the back or middle of a garden bed.
• This plant does not spread by underground runners, so it stays in one clump instead of spreading through a bed.
• It handles the heat, humidity, and short dry spells that are common in Hot Springs summers once it is established.

Fall

Fall is peak bloom time for sweet coneflower in the Hot Springs area, with flowers lasting until the first freeze usually arrives in early to mid November.

• Let the plant keep blooming, since sweet coneflower flowers from late summer into fall.
• Leave some seed heads standing once blooms fade, since birds like goldfinches feed on the seeds through fall and into winter.
• The first freeze in the Hot Springs area usually arrives in early to mid November, which ends the bloom for the year.

Leaving a few seed heads up through fall reads as an intentional native planting rather than neglect, especially next to a clean mulched edge.

Winter

In winter, sweet coneflower dies back to the ground, and the mild Hot Springs winters mean it needs no extra protection.

• The plant dies back to the ground and needs no watering or feeding until new growth returns in spring.
• Dry stems and seed heads are what will be visible in the bed through winter, and that is normal for this plant.
• Winters in the Hot Springs area are mild, with average lows near 33 degrees in January, so no winter cover or extra mulch is needed for this plant.

Bare stems and dry seed heads in winter are normal for a native perennial bed, not a sign of a dead or neglected yard.

Spring

In spring, cut back last year's dead stems before new growth starts and give the plant a fresh layer of mulch as the soil warms.

• Cut old stems down to about 6 to 9 inches in late winter or early spring, before new growth starts, since flowers form on this year's stems.
• Wait until after the last hard freeze, usually early April in the Hot Springs area, before doing major garden cleanup.
• If a clump looks thin in the middle, dig and divide it in early spring and replant the divisions right away in moist soil.
• Spread a layer of mulch around the base after cutting back to help the soil hold moisture as the weather warms.

Cutting old stems back neatly in early spring keeps a front-yard bed looking intentional rather than overgrown from last season.

Summer

Summer is the plant's most active growing season in Hot Springs, and it handles the area's heat and humidity well once it is established.

• Water deeply about once a week during dry stretches from June through August, and more often for plants in their first year.
• Watch tall stems for flopping after wind or heavy rain, especially in part shade, and stake them if needed.
• Watch for powdery mildew, a white coating on the leaves that can show up in humid weather, and give plants more space for air movement if it appears.
• Deadhead spent flowers through summer to keep new blooms coming, or leave a few for birds later in the season.

Staking floppy stems and deadheading through summer keeps this plant looking tended in a front-yard bed.