cutting back coneflowers?

My landlord bought a few plants for me to add to the areas i garden last year. Three of them are purple coneflowers, and one of those has grown crazily this year. None have budded yet, and 2 of them are about 12 - 15" tall, but the 3rd must be over 2' already. It is in a really inconvenient space to be this tall. Now, if it would expand in width, that would be great. Can i cut it back in a way that would encourage that? Or, if not, is it a plant i can move to a better location for something of that height?
thanks...

amy
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You can transplant it. They're not blooming yet are they? Mine are only about a foot hugh right now....

You can move them now without any problems. I do not recommend to cut back/head back coneflowers though, they are a bit to woody to recover from that. I would just give them more time to fill in on there own.

pale purple

Got this from a quick google:


"Some perennials just get too tall for their space, or so tall that they tend to fall over. You can reduce the size of these plants by cutting them back once or twice before they bloom. Although this will delay bloom slightly, you will generally have shorter plants and more flowers. This technique works well for Bee balm, (Yarrow) Purple Coneflower, and Lobelia cardinalis, among others. The technique is to cut the stems back 3 to 6 inches when flower buds begin to form."


I have done it with Joe Pye Weed. I'll try it with some inconspicuous Echinaceas.

The Well-Tended Perennial Garden is the ultimate source for plant by plant directions on this.

Thanks!
i trimmed one of them, and i may move the monster back a bit further...

amy
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