Coneflower Magnus
Echinacea purpurea 'Magnus'
This Perennial Plant Association award winner showcases the classic purple coneflower at its finest, with rich rosy-purple petals that don't droop and prominent bronze-orange centers. Magnus is beloved by butterflies, bees, and goldfinches while providing excellent cut flowers and winter seed heads for natural garden interest. It's incredibly drought tolerant and reliable, making it a cornerstone plant for prairie-style and pollinator gardens.
Sun
Full sun to partial shade
Zones
3–8
USDA hardiness
Height
3-4 feet
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for Coneflower Magnus in USDA Zone 7
All Zone 7 flower →Zone Map
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Coneflower Magnus · Zones 3–8
Growing Details
Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar
| Zone | Indoor Start | Transplant | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | May – June | July – August | July – September | — |
| Zone 2 | April – May | June – July | June – August | — |
| Zone 11 | January – January | January – February | January – March | — |
| Zone 12 | January – January | January – February | January – March | — |
| Zone 13 | January – January | January – February | January – March | — |
| Zone 3 | April – May | June – July | June – August | — |
| Zone 4 | March – April | June – June | June – July | — |
| Zone 5 | March – April | May – June | May – July | — |
| Zone 6 | March – April | May – June | May – July | — |
| Zone 7 | February – March | April – May | April – June | — |
| Zone 8 | February – March | April – May | April – June | — |
| Zone 9 | January – February | March – April | March – May | — |
| Zone 10 | January – January | February – March | February – April | — |
Complete Growing Guide
Light: Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day), Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours). Soil: Clay, High Organic Matter, Loam (Silt), Sand, Shallow Rocky. Soil pH: Neutral (6.0-8.0). Drainage: Good Drainage, Moist, Occasionally Dry. Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.. Spread: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.. Spacing: 12 inches-3 feet. Growth rate: Rapid. Maintenance: Low. Propagation: Division, Root Cutting, Seed. Regions: Coastal, Mountains, Piedmont.
Harvesting
Seeds produced in the center cone are small, dark, 4 sided achenes that are attractive to birds.
Color: Black. Type: Achene. Length: < 1 inch. Width: < 1 inch.
Garden value: Good Dried
Harvest time: Fall, Summer
Edibility: Herbaceous parts may be steeped as a tea
History & Origin
Origin: Eastern and central USA
Advantages
- +Attracts: Bees, Butterflies, Pollinators, Songbirds
- +Edible: Herbaceous parts may be steeped as a tea
- +Fast-growing
- +Low maintenance
Companion Plants
Black-Eyed Susan and Shasta Daisy are the most practical neighbors — they share the same pH range (6.0–7.5), tolerate summer dry spells once established, and bloom on a similar schedule without competing for deep moisture. Bee Balm draws the same pollinators but spreads by rhizome; keep it at least 24 inches back and divide it every 2 years or it'll swamp the crown. Lavender and Russian Sage work at the front edge because their fine, dry-adapted roots don't pull from the same moisture zone Magnus needs. Mint creeps underground and will close in on the crown fast; Black Walnut drops juglone into the soil and stunts most perennials within its root zone — both are worth a hard no.
Plant Together
Black-Eyed Susan
Similar growing requirements and bloom times, creates pollinator-friendly prairie garden
Bee Balm
Attracts beneficial insects and pollinators, complementary bloom periods
Lavender
Repels pests like aphids and deer, both are drought-tolerant perennials
Sedum
Provides late-season nectar for butterflies, similar low-maintenance requirements
Russian Sage
Deer resistant, drought tolerant, and creates beautiful color contrast
Ornamental Grasses
Provides structural contrast and winter interest, similar water needs
Shasta Daisy
Attracts beneficial insects, complementary white blooms with purple coneflowers
Catmint
Repels rodents and deer, drought tolerant with similar growing conditions
Keep Apart
Black Walnut
Produces juglone which is toxic to many plants including coneflowers
Dense Shade Trees
Coneflowers need full sun and will become weak and leggy in heavy shade
Mint
Aggressive spreading nature can overtake and crowd out coneflower plantings
Pests & Disease Resistance
Resistance
Good disease resistance, occasional powdery mildew in humid conditions
Common Pests
Japanese beetles, aphids, eriophyid mites
Diseases
Powdery mildew, bacterial spot, aster yellows (rare)
Troubleshooting Coneflower Magnus
What you'll see, why it happens, and what to do about it.
White powdery coating on upper leaf surfaces, usually appearing mid-summer when nights cool down
Likely Causes
- Powdery mildew (Erysiphe cichoracearum) — airborne fungal spores that thrive when humidity is high but leaves stay dry
- Crowded spacing under 18 inches that chokes airflow between plants
What to Do
- 1.Cut out the worst-affected stems at the base and trash them — don't compost
- 2.Give remaining plants more room; thin if you haven't divided in 3+ years
- 3.Apply a diluted neem oil spray (2 tbsp per gallon) every 7 days until symptoms stop spreading
Petals stunted or twisted, flower heads distorted with a yellowed, leafy look instead of normal ray petals
Likely Causes
- Aster yellows — a phytoplasma disease spread by aster leafhoppers (Macrosteles quadrilineatus)
- No cure exists once a plant is infected
What to Do
- 1.Pull and bag the entire plant immediately — roots and all — before leafhoppers move the phytoplasma to neighboring coneflowers
- 2.Cover young transplants with row fabric in spring to limit leafhopper access during establishment
- 3.Leave that spot out of Echinacea and other aster-family plants for at least one full season