How to Grow Merlot Coneflower
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Merlot Coneflower
Echinacea purpurea 'Merlot'
flowerMerlot Coneflower is a striking cultivar of purple coneflower featuring deep burgundy-wine colored petals with an orange-bronze central cone. This perennial attracts pollinators and provides long-lasting color from mid-summer through fall. It's a hardy, low-maintenance addition to gardens and excellent for cutting.
When should you plant Merlot Coneflower in your zone?
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Example Merlot Coneflower timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
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Plant Merlot Coneflower
Around Apr 17Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.
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Tend & protect
Late spring–summerWatering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
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First Merlot Coneflower blooms
Around Jul 16≈ 90 days after planting
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Merlot Coneflower dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Thrives in zones 3-9, with peak performance in zones 4-8
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Seedling
3-4 weeksSmall rosette of narrow green leaves developing from seed; very vulnerable to damping off and overwatering.
Maintain consistently moist (not wet) soil; provide bright, indirect light; ensure excellent air circulation; thin seedlings to prevent crowding.
Vegetative Growth
6-8 weeksRapid leaf expansion with tall, sturdy stems developing; plant reaches 50-70% of mature height; no flowers yet.
Water deeply but allow soil to dry slightly between waterings; provide full sun; fertilize lightly with balanced fertilizer; stake if needed in windy areas.
Bud Formation
2-3 weeksTerminal buds form at stem tips; burgundy coloration begins appearing in buds; plant nears full height (24-30 inches).
Continue consistent watering; apply light fertilizer high in phosphorus to support flowering; remove any damaged foliage.
Flowering
8-12 weeks (July through September)Deep wine-red petals reflexing backward with prominent orange-bronze central cones; blooms proliferate over several weeks.
Deadhead spent flowers to encourage continued blooming; maintain consistent moisture but avoid wet soil; support heavy flower stems if needed.
Seed Maturation & Winter Dormancy
October-MayPetals drop; prominent seed cones develop and dry; foliage may turn bronze; plant dies back after hard frost.
Leave seed heads on plant for wildlife; cut back dead foliage in spring (late March/April) rather than fall; no fertilizer needed; minimal watering.
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
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Hand-pick in early morning; use row covers; apply neem oil or spinosad; encourage natural predators like parasitic wasps
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Ensure excellent air circulation; avoid overhead watering; apply sulfur dust or potassium bicarbonate fungicide; thin stems in spring
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Spray with strong water stream; apply insecticidal soap; increase humidity; encourage beneficial predatory mites
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Remove infected plants immediately; control leafhopper vectors with row covers or neem oil; maintain plant vigor
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Remove affected leaves; improve air circulation; water at soil level only; apply copper fungicide if severe
Uses
Herbal Tea & Immune Support
CulinaryEchinacea petals and roots have been used traditionally to make immune-supporting herbal tea with a slightly earthy, floral flavor. Modern research supports its traditional use in supporting natural immune function. [source]
Cut Flower Arrangements
HouseholdThe striking deep burgundy blooms with bronze cones hold well in fresh arrangements, lasting 7-10 days in a vase. Their tall stems and unique appearance make them prized by florists and garden arrangers. [source]
Pollinator Garden
WildlifeMerlot Coneflower is highly attractive to butterflies, bees, and other pollinators throughout its long blooming season. The dried seed cones provide food for finches and other seed-eating birds in fall and winter. [source]
Traditional Herbal Remedy
MedicinalNative American tribes used Echinacea species for respiratory health and to support recovery from illness. Modern herbalists continue to use dried root and aerial parts in tinctures and supplements. [source]
Dried Flower Crafts
CraftThe distinctive seed cones persist beautifully when dried and are valued in dried arrangements, wreaths, and botanical crafts. The deep burgundy petals dry to rich wine tones. [source]
This is not medical advice. LizPlants is not a medical resource. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using plants medicinally.
Harvest Tips
Cut flowers in the morning after dew dries when blooms are fully open; use sharp, clean scissors; cut stems at an angle and remove lower leaves below water line. For seed collection, allow flower heads to dry completely on plant (late September-October), then cut and store in dry place. Perennial rootstock returns each spring; do not dig up.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 Merlot Coneflower is named for its deep wine-colored petals, reminiscent of Merlot wine, making it one of the most dramatically colored Echinacea cultivars available.
- 🌱 Echinacea was widely used by Great Plains Native Americans for over 400 years before European settlers adopted it, and it remains one of the most studied medicinal plants in modern herbalism.
- 🌱 A single Merlot Coneflower plant can produce hundreds of seeds that feed goldfinches and other songbirds; leaving seed heads standing through winter supports local bird populations.
Gardening Terms
New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:
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