Coneflowers, scientifically known as Echinacea, are cherished perennials in many gardens, known for their vibrant blooms and resilience. Native to the central and eastern United States, these plants are popular for their long-lasting flowers and adaptability. Despite their hardiness and visual appeal, coneflowers serve as a food source for numerous creatures, leading to interactions gardeners often observe.
Insects That Feed on Coneflowers
Many insects target coneflowers, causing distinct damage to different plant parts. Japanese beetles feed on coneflower foliage and flowers, leaving irregular holes and skeletonized leaves. These beetles can quickly defoliate plants, particularly during June and July. Aphids, small soft-bodied insects, colonize the undersides of leaves and stems, sucking out plant sap. This feeding can result in stunted growth, discolored or curling leaves, and honeydew, which may attract ants or sooty mold.
Eriophyid mites live and feed inside flower buds, causing distorted or stunted flowers as they open. The damage can manifest as twisted flower heads or rosette-like tufts of growth within the blooms. Whiteflies are sap-sucking pests that can cause leaf yellowing, shredding, and black sooty mold due to their honeydew excretion. Root weevils and other grubs can damage plant health by feeding on roots.
Mammals That Graze on Coneflowers
Mammals frequently graze on coneflowers, especially in gardens. Rabbits often target young shoots, leaves, and sometimes small plants, particularly enjoying the tender new growth. They can consume coneflowers down to the ground level, leaving ragged tears or clean-cut stems. Deer will browse on coneflowers, especially when other food sources are scarce or during early growth stages. Their feeding can involve flower heads, leaves, and entire plants, often leaving behind clean cuts.
Groundhogs (woodchucks) consume a wide variety of garden plants, including coneflowers, sometimes eating large quantities. They can quickly defoliate plants, leaving little behind. Raccoons, possums, field mice, and rats have also been observed eating coneflower blooms and foliage, particularly in urban areas or when foraging opportunities are limited. Chipmunks have been noted to eat coneflower stems, sometimes leaving them severed on the ground nearby.
Birds That Enjoy Coneflower Seeds
Birds interact with coneflowers beneficially, primarily by consuming their seeds. American goldfinches are fond of coneflower seeds and are frequently seen perched on dried flower heads in late summer and fall, expertly extracting the seeds with their specialized beaks. These birds are well-adapted to cling to the drying seed heads, sometimes even hanging upside down to reach the tiny, protein-rich seeds.
Allowing coneflowers to go to seed benefits wildlife, providing a valuable food source as the seasons change. Other seed-eating birds such as house finches, pine siskins, sparrows, dark-eyed juncos, cardinals, and chickadees also forage on coneflower seeds, either directly from the plant or by gleaning fallen seeds from the ground. This interaction occurs as the seeds mature in late summer and autumn, offering sustenance when other food sources may become less abundant.
Safeguarding Your Coneflowers
Protecting coneflowers from unwanted consumption involves non-toxic and practical strategies. Physical barriers can be effective, such as netting or cloches to shield young plants, or installing fencing around garden areas to deter mammals like deer and rabbits. Placing wire cages or chicken wire around young plants can prevent early damage from grazing animals.
Natural repellents can also be employed to make coneflowers less appealing. Homemade sprays with hot pepper, garlic, or commercial animal repellents can deter pests. Companion planting, by placing coneflowers near strong-scented herbs like lavender, sage, marigolds, or chives, can deter deer and rabbits due to their unpalatable aromas. Maintaining plant health through proper spacing, adequate drainage, and regular inspection helps coneflowers resist pests and recover from damage.
Coneflowers’ Role in Ecosystems
Coneflowers play a broader role within ecosystems beyond being a food source. Their vibrant, nectar-rich flowers are attractive to a diverse array of pollinators, including bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Bees, particularly native species like bumblebees, are drawn to the open structure of coneflower blooms, while butterflies find easy access to nectar. Coneflowers also serve as host plants for the larvae of certain butterfly species, such as the silvery checkerspot butterfly, and several moths.
Deep taproots of coneflowers contribute to soil health by aerating compacted soil and reducing erosion. They also provide habitat and contribute to biodiversity, supporting insects and wildlife. This ecological interaction, where coneflowers provide food and shelter, highlights their significance in maintaining a balanced and thriving natural environment.