Butterflies, including fritillaries, monarchs, painted lady bees, and swallowtails, are drawn to coneflowers’ nectar and seeds, which are tasty and nutritious.
Perennials like this one are easy to grow and give a burst of color to your yard. Additionally, they are available in white, yellow and orange, and lavender.
Plant a few coneflowers in your preferred hue in the barren patches of your perennial garden.
What Do Coneflowers Attract?
Coneflowers attract a lot of birds. The most commonly attracted are:
1. American Goldfinch
Native thistle, aster, sunflower, and coneflower are among the seed-bearing plants the American Goldfinch prefers to feed on in weed-infested fields and yards.
The male American Goldfinch is a bright yellow with a black head and black and white streaked wings during the breeding season.
The female is a dull yellow with black and white striped wings, and she is smaller than the male.
To attract an American Goldfinch to your yard, you should cultivate and preserve their preferred native flowers and offer them birdseed. Nyjer seed and hulled sunflower seed are favorites of the American Goldfinch.
2. Black-Capped Chickadee
This chickadee’s black “cap” on top of its head extends below its eyes, hence its common name.
They have white cheeks and chests, gray wings with white margins, and beige sides.
Just four to six inches (10 to 15 centimeters) long and with a wingspan of six to eight inches, adult black-capped chickadees are little birds (15 to 20 centimeters).
Non-migratory black-capped chickadees are found in the United States. From New England to the West Coast, they can be found year-round.
The Appalachian Mountains lead them to Georgia on the east.
Deciduous and mixed deciduous-evergreen woods, particularly along forest edges, are ideal habitats for black-capped chickadees.
Willow and cottonwood trees are common nesting places, as are alder and birch trees’ snags. In addition, chickadees can be attracted to suburban backyards by using feeders and nest boxes.
Here is an article I wrote on growing coneflowers in sandy soil
3. Dark-Eyed Junco
There aren’t many birds that are easier to attract than the Dark-Eyed Junco at this time of year.
Upperparts of the Slate-Colored Junco are dark gray, while the belly is white (note: females may have a brownish tint).
They prefer millet on a platform feeder or on the ground; however, they’ll take any seed.
The Dark-Eyed Junco will be more likely to survive the winter if it has access to a constant supply of seeds and a shrubby environment or brush pile for protection. For this bird, a birdbath is also a need.
4. Ruby-Throated Hummingbird
A Ruby-Throated Hummingbird’s zipping and buzzing is a beloved sight in eastern gardens in the United States.
Despite its diminutive stature, this colorful bird is a daredevil, coming close to people and drinking nectar from their outstretched hands.
To attract a Ruby-Throated Hummingbird, hummingbird feeders can be purchased and filled with nectar solution (which can be manufactured at home using 1 part sugar for 4 parts water – no food colouring necessary).
Trumpet Honeysuckle is the best flower for hummingbirds because it has tubular and trumpet-shaped blossoms ideal for hummingbird nectar extraction.
Cardinal Flower, red columbine, wild bergamot, and bee-balm are favorite of hummingbirds. The hues of red, orange and purple appeal to Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds.
While breeding, Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds will feed on insects in addition to nectar.
Others include the downy woodpecker, insectivorous birds, mourning dove, northern cardinal, and pine siskin.
Why Do Coneflowers Attract Bees or Birds?
One of the daisies, Coneflowers, has colorful petals surrounding an oval seed cone in the middle of each flower bud.
And pollinators of all types, including birds, bees, and butterflies, are drawn to the seed cone.
Also check out this article I wrote on why do coneflowers flop
Reasons Why You Should Grow Purple Coneflowers
1. They are native plants
Echinacea is a great addition to any garden because it is a native plant. In order for native species to thrive, they must rely on native flora for food and habitat.
Exotic plants from different countries and continents that we’ve brought into our yards aren’t right for our wildlife.
There is no place for insects and birds to hide and no food in a yard full with exotic plants.
We are harming our local birds, animals, and insects by using plants that are not native to our area.
Plants from other countries generally don’t have any “enemies” in the United States.
However, we have no control over the spread of invasive species since there is no barrier to stop them from taking over our natural habitats.
Kudzu in the South and purple loosestrife in the Northeast are two examples of alien invasive plants.
2. They are drought-tolerant
Coneflowers are endemic to the Great Plains and grasslands of North America, where they thrive in arid conditions.
Angustifolia is native to our dry plains; Pale Purple Coneflower is endemic to the Mississippi Valley and the Southern Great Plains; the familiar purple flower Echinacea purpurea grows throughout the Midwest Florida.
When it comes to finding water, the plants have either a long taproot or rhizomes that stretch out in search of it.
Plant them in well-drained soil or a raised bed, and don’t water them unless it’s really dry, as none of them tolerates “wet feet.”.
3. They bloom for a long time.
While most perennials only have a two-week flowering period, Echinacea’s blooming period lasts from early summer (June in New Jersey) until late summer (August in NJ).
A mix of perennials blooming at different times throughout the summer is the only way to provide color.
To keep annuals blooming throughout summer, they must be regularly deadheaded. Therefore, only a few plants will be in flower at any moment in a mixed perennial border.
4. Coneflowers entice nectar-seeking birds.
Echinacea is essential for a butterfly garden.
Butterflies love nectar from nectar plants. Plant various nectar and host plants in your butterfly garden for the best results. Caterpillars feed on host plants.
Echinacea is one of the best nectar plants for attracting a wide variety of butterflies because of its wide distribution across North America.
It is possible to see swallowtails of all colors, including black and white, clouded Sulphur, banded hairstreaks, big spangled fritillaries, and red-spotted admirals and painted ladies. Coneflowers are appealing to all of them.
Conclusion
Perennial coneflowers are a beautiful addition to any garden since they are easy to cultivate and require little care over the long run.
Additionally, this plant is deer and drought resistant, making growing even more convenient!
Several species of birds are drawn to their seeds.
