{"product_id":"yellow-coneflower-seeds","title":"Yellow Coneflower \"Gray-Headed Coneflower\" (Ratibida pinnata) Seeds – Native Prairie Wildflower, Drought-Tolerant, Loved by Pollinators","description":"\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMinimum:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cem\u003e50+ Seeds\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 dir=\"ltr\"\u003eThe Prairie Native That Ignores Drought\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eLong before prairie restoration became a movement, this plant was already doing the work: anchoring tallgrass prairies across the Midwest with deep roots that shrug off drought and poor soil. Gray-Headed Coneflower sends up tall, wiry stems topped with drooping yellow petals around a gray-brown, cone-shaped center that gives the plant its name. It blooms for weeks through summer, drawing bees, butterflies, and beneficial insects, then feeds birds through winter with seed heads left standing. This is a genuine tallgrass prairie species, not a garden hybrid dressed up as native.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWho Grows Gray-Headed Coneflower?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe native prairie gardener restoring authentic tallgrass species to a home landscape.\u003cbr\u003eThe pollinator gardener wanting a long-blooming summer nectar source for bees and butterflies.\u003cbr\u003eThe drought-tolerant gardener needing a plant that thrives on neglect.\u003cbr\u003eThe bird-friendly gardener wanting winter seed heads for finches and sparrows.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat This Native Prairie Wildflower Actually Is\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003eRatibida pinnata\u003c\/em\u003e, called gray-headed coneflower or yellow coneflower, is a tallgrass prairie perennial native to central and eastern North America, historically a dominant species across Midwestern prairies before agricultural conversion. Plants grow upright, 3 to 5 feet tall, with finely divided, fern-like foliage and daisy-like flowers featuring drooping yellow petals around a raised, gray-brown, cone-shaped disc, giving the plant its name and a faint anise scent when crushed. It blooms over an extended period in mid to late summer, a major nectar source for native bees, butterflies, and beneficial insects. Deep, drought-resistant roots make it tolerant of poor soil and dry conditions once established. Hardy in zones 3 through 8, it spreads slowly by seed and rhizome, forming naturalized colonies over time.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIn the Garden \u0026amp; Prairie\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNative prairie restoration:\u003c\/strong\u003e Include as a core species in a tallgrass prairie restoration.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePollinator border:\u003c\/strong\u003e Plant in a sunny bed to draw native bees, butterflies, and beneficial insects.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDrought-tolerant landscaping:\u003c\/strong\u003e Use in a low-water bed where established plants need little water.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWinter bird forage:\u003c\/strong\u003e Leave seed heads standing through fall and winter to feed finches and sparrows.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCut flower use:\u003c\/strong\u003e Cut stems at peak bloom for a loose, wildflower-style arrangement.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNaturalized meadow planting:\u003c\/strong\u003e Let it spread by seed and rhizome to fill a meadow or bed.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGrowing Gray-Headed Coneflower Seeds\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eStart method:\u003c\/strong\u003e Direct sow outdoors in fall, or cold stratify before spring sowing.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eStratification:\u003c\/strong\u003e Chill seeds in moist sand or a damp towel for 30-60 days.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGermination:\u003c\/strong\u003e Sprouts in 14-30 days once warm, following stratification.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil temperature:\u003c\/strong\u003e Best 60-70°F.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpacing:\u003c\/strong\u003e Space plants 18-24 inches apart for mature spread.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSunlight:\u003c\/strong\u003e Full sun.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil:\u003c\/strong\u003e Tolerates poor, dry, or rocky soil; avoid rich, wet ground.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWatering:\u003c\/strong\u003e Drought-tolerant once established; water sparingly beyond year 1.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGrowth habit:\u003c\/strong\u003e Slow to establish in year one, fuller bloom by year 2-3.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBloom time:\u003c\/strong\u003e Flowers over an extended period from mid to late summer.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHardiness:\u003c\/strong\u003e Reliable to zone 3; a long-lived prairie perennial.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpread:\u003c\/strong\u003e Spreads gradually by seed and rhizome, naturalizing over time.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBefore You Close This Page\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis is a genuine tallgrass prairie species, not a bred-up garden version of native. Gray-Headed Coneflower blooms for weeks through summer, feeding pollinators the entire time, then stands through winter to feed birds. Its deep roots make it nearly indifferent to drought and poor soil once established, asking for little beyond full sun. Let it naturalize in a meadow bed or anchor a pollinator planting with real prairie authenticity. Grow the coneflower that fed the tallgrass prairie long before anyone thought to restore one.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"terramatergardens","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54377519808830,"sku":"11583","price":2.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/8836\/7166\/files\/candles-5877.png?v=1789177112","url":"https:\/\/www.terramatergardens.com\/products\/yellow-coneflower-seeds","provider":"Terra Mater Gardens","version":"1.0","type":"link"}