My Coneflower Blooms are gone overnight.

I have never had this happen before, but the flowers have been cut just below the head and they are nowhere to be found.
It looks like someone cut them off the plant, the stem is still there, there are many cut in one area, and not as many in other areas.

I can't figure out which animal or insect might have done this, the squirrels never did this before, so I don't think it was them.
I don,t think it was a person they are in my backyard, and I doubt that someone would come in at night to pick some seeds,

I am mystified, has this happened to any of you? I really would like to find out who is doing it.

Thank you for any help you can give me.
Josephine.

I would guess an animal, perhaps a squirrel. Your flowers are beautiful!

Carla

Thank you Carla, but they have never done that before, and believe me they have done a lot of damage in different ways, I just don't know yet.
Josephine.

squirrels...mine pluck purple jew every time I plant it and carry across the yard, and up a tree. They also pluck up every plant marker I put in the ground, chew it up, and hide them in a big hole in same tree. They are crafty, and love to eat plant matter more than I would ever have imagined

Chewed through plastic lattice and took my plants behind the lattice.. I used to think it was rabbits that got the coneflowers (because it was a clean cut and not shredded like a deer would leave) but then I had some that were too tall for the bunnies and missing the same way. A DG'er said that the raccoons will pull the flower head right down and bite it off.

Well, I know that squirrels are very damaging but I have never seen them do this before, of course it is never too late to learn new tricks, right??

I know that there are raccoons in the neighborhood, we have trapped some before, they were making big holes in the mulch and turning my flower pots upside down, so it looks like the kind of neat plucking that raccoons are good at.

It looks like it is time to set the cage out again, we trapped three last fall and relocated them.
We shall see how it goes.
Josephine.

Squirrels don't eat at night .

You are right Digger, one more reason why I don't think it was the squirrels.

They must have lead lined throats. The cone in the "cone flower" is very prickly.

I was thinking the same thing Lou, I have had my finger bleed from being stuck by one I was deadheading. Nocturnal feeder with a tough mouth and throat that is tall enough to pull the flower off with no other damage...camels! LOL
C

Alright!!! that is a new one, maybe a camel escaped from the zoo and made it over to my yard.
Very funny Cheryl, but not really funny to have your coneflowers picked off the plant.
I had planted those especially thick to attract the butterflies to the area.
I still vote for the raccoons.

I guess you will just have to sit up all night and watch then Josephine

Oh I know its not funny, having something damage a lot of plants hurts. Just thought I would vote for the camel to lighten up the situation.
C

We have had great luck this year with the butterflies and lantana. It is an annual here.

I know you were kidding Cheryl, no problem.
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Karen, I don't know about sitting and watching all night, I might have yo build a tent to do that, it is raining.

If they be eating them at night my dog would have to handle the situation ,Cause I can hardly make it past 10...

Raining in Texas , and all I got was thunder .

Yes, can't sit out there either, besides if I am out there they might not come.
I will probably put up the cage tonight if it isn't raining.

You could put one of those web spy cams.... But yeah, I vote nocturnal cone camel, too.

josephine my husband and i were walking the dog today and of course i check out everyones plants as we walk--guess what i saw? a house with lots of coneflowers with the leaves and stem healthy and upright and no flower at the top! no flower on the ground---now who would pick a flower just at the very top and leave a long stem standing??---so the mystery is over here too
my coneflowers however are all righ so far

Well, I am glad I am not the only one, thanks for letting me know, we shall see what develops.

tadadadatadada......

It's a N . Texas Bigfoot with a good nose .

Hello Christi and Digger, it is really a big mystery, right?

I have been deadheading some of mine and it is really necessary to use the clippers as they don't turn loose all that easily. I haven't a clue.

That is right, I usually cut them back to the first good node to encourage more blooming, but these are cut just below the flower head.

Any chance this was grasshoppers? I have had this happen before as well....to many plants overnight like that. The worst was my hibiscus, it never did get to bloom because they kept chewing off the ends.

It could be grasshoppers, Jujube said they destroyed one of his apple trees.

But the grasshoppers wouldn't have a way of hauling off the flowerheads.

Hmm giant grasshoppers with opposible thumbs? I am really curious about what is doing this.
C

with tiny wheelbarrows??

AHA!

Don't think anyone can top this .

oh that is precious!!

hey the way we figured this mystery out--monk's got nothing on us!
now josephine what will you do about these trouble makers?

That is a really adorable picture Cheryl, where did you find it ?
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Linda, we will probably set up the cage tonight and see what happens.

I just put 3 google images together using ppt.
C

Well, that is quite a talent, very nice work.

Can't help, Josephine, sorry. My cones get almost no attention, and the only problem I ever see them have is powdery mildew (they grow under crepe myrtles that also get no attention).

Thank you Pattie, the ones I have in the shade get mildew too, but they still bloom.
I guess we may never find out who was the culprit, but squirrels and raccoons are my best guess.

All I can tell ya is that I have tons of squirrels, and they have never bothered the flowers. Dig around in the beds, yes, eat the bulbs, yes, get in the attic, chew up the bird feeders, generally be a pain in the neck--all yes. But take off flowers, no. Raccoons? Who knows. They do such weird things.

I had a mystery like that last year. My pond and my lotus pots were all losing about 2 inches of water every night. If it had just been one, I would've figured a leak, but it was everything. I finally decided it was probably raccoons, maybe taking a bath. But we never did find out for sure.

Josephine, if you need more cones this fall, let me know asap. My sprinkler people dug up my bed pretty badly, right about the time they were going to seed. I still have plenty right now, but may not have many new ones next year.