Purple Coneflower and Hot Winds

Hi!

I'm new to this site, and learning a ton. We live in Riverside Co., CA, so we have hot and dry conditions this time of year. I planted a few Purple Coneflowers the other day as I read they were heat and wind resistant, but the poor things look like they are about to keel over. I'm bummed as I thought I researched well, but maybe they do not do well in the heat and wind afterall. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

When you first plant things especially if the weather's hot they will go through transplant shock and that's exactly what it sounds like is happening to yours. Once they get established then they will be fine with hot dry weather, but not when they're newly planted. Summer is the worst time of year to plant things, you're better off planting things in fall or spring when the weather's cooler. Since you've already planted them, the most important thing is to get them enough water, and it might help them if you can rig up some shade for them for a few weeks to keep the sun from beating down on them as much.

You certaily CAN plant things in the summer. If it was the "worst time of year" for planting, nurseries and garden centers would be CLOSED, and landscape crews would be out of work.

Summer is not an ideal time to plant, it's definitely more stressful and can make transplant shock worse. I never said you couldn't plant in summer, you certainly can but it makes your job harder with trying to keep things watered properly.

ecrane3, you font of knowledge. I agree with you about summer planting. Newly planted anything needs more water and a little pampering this time of the year.

Thanks so much for your responses! They seemed to have perked up some overnight. The hot winds really battered them yesterday, and it's going to be the same forecast today. We have no shade in the backyard - the house we bought had no landscaping and we are working on it now - Hearing that it's probably transplant shock makes me feel much better.

I see JasperDale's snotty remark was removed. Good. No place in DG for that kind of stuff.

Glad to hear they perked up--a lot of times new plants will wilt in the heat of the day but then perk back up at night. They'll probably keep doing that for a while until their roots get going but as long as you keep an eye on the watering they should pull through for you. And once they're established I think you'll be a lot happier with their heat tolerance.

My beautiful orange coneflowers were planted last summer, bloomed, and then began to show distress. Leaves seemed to turn bronzy color, many tiny brown pin-sized spots.I cut them down to basal foliage and they sort of went dormant. Funeral was premature. Back this year looking great until .... I noticed the same symptoms reappearing. I can't see any insects. Ideas anybody?
Purple coneflowers in another part of the garden are fine.

Can you post on the Coneflower forum? There are some diseases that effect CF's. It could be something in your soil also.

I think you have to be a paid subscriber to access the coneflower forum so you may not be able to post there, but at the very least I would recommend starting your own thread in this forum--your problem does not sound like the same problem that ErinSoCal was having, so you'll get probably get more help if you start your own thread.

I have an unusual problem with the common pink variety of cone flower. I planted them about 3 years ago in my heavy, though amended , soil. They always come back, and, in fact, have spread...but are at least 6 feet tall, which according to what I've read, is not normal. Since they are in front of my smaller plants, in very bright sunshine, they don't look so good. I had no idea they would grow so big, or I would have put them in the back of the border. Any ideas what is happening? Should I fertilize them? They get plenty of sun but I don't water as much as I should, although this has been a cool, wet spring.Help!!!

I moved some coneflowers from IA to MO. They are in horrible shock. Since it is the dead of summer, should I cut off all the dead limbs and hope for the best? Thanks - I am new to this!!!

Nutcase

Several cone flowers do indeed get at least 3 to 5 feet tall. Also...in everything I have read about the flower...they should be ready to divide by at least year three. Sounds to me like it's time for you to do some transplanting!