Echinacea-"stunted" flowers

Emuchops

I have waitied patiently for the above to flower only to be disappointed. The central "cone" of the flower is fine but it only has about 8 petals, which are really thin and barely noticable. Other than this the plant is tall and healthy looking. It has more buds but Im thinking that they will develop in the same way. Any ideas why this has happened? (its the first year that it has bloomed-bog standard perennial from Morrisons).

Thankyou.

Kay_Peel

I've found that it takes a couple of years before Echinacea starts performing. It's one of those temperamental plants that doesn't like being disturbed, divided or otherwise interfered with - but once it's established and left alone it comes into its own.

Mine are now three years old. When I first planted them they didn't seem to grow at all. The following year they began to shape themselves but the flowers were miserable specimens. This year looks promising.

Yours sound as though they are starting to like the space that you've planted them in. At least they are growing well and beginning to put up cones - which is more than mine did in such a short time.

It's not you, it's them! They are little blighters to get going.

Emuchops

Kay Peel-thankyou-youve saved its life-I was planning to dig it out in the autumn but I'll give it a reprieve!