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I always yanked spent blooms off my coneflowers until a nursery worker in Lincoln set me straight
For about 4 years I deadheaded my purple coneflowers the second the petals dropped. Last August I was at a small nursery in Lincoln and mentioned it to the woman working there. She said goldfinches eat those seed heads in fall and winter, and cutting them early means no birds and no self seeding. I left every single one standing this time and counted 6 goldfinches on them in October. Do other people leave their coneflowers up all winter or am I the only one who just learned this?
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paige_bell817h ago
Oh man, I was today years old when I found out about the goldfinches thing too, so you are not alone here. I have been out there every fall with my pruners like I am doing some kind of important yard work, snip snip snip, feeling all proud of myself for keeping things tidy. Meanwhile I could have been feeding birds this whole time and letting my coneflowers spread for free, which honestly sounds way better than my version of yard work. I guess my grandma was right when she said I kill things with kindness, or in this case by cutting them down. The funny part is I actually wondered why I never got any new ones popping up on their own, and now it all makes sense. Leaving every single seed head standing this winter, no question about it. Count me in with you and the six goldfinches.
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