Why is it best not to let the coneflowers bloom the first year? I have never heard that and always let mine do as they wish. There are certainly some lovely ones here. These plants are so expensive. Most of them that I have found to order these beautiful colors are 19.99/plant. That is kind of pricey for me. Maybe I'm a cheap skate, but it is. And for some reason, nothing much but the old fashioned purple ones make it through the winter here for me, no matter how I baby them and to me, that is an expensive annual. Another thing I love and I have a lot of trouble getting to live, is that butter yellow Shasta Daisy, they are so pretty and will grow good for a while, then, just as mine just has, they will just suddenly die! :0(

If you let them put their effort into root development instead of flowers they are much more likely to overwinter. Winter wetness and poor drainage do them in. I also do not plant after July. I have had much better luck with them since reading this article and following what it says. I now have many plants for over 5 years.
http://www.ballpublishing.com/...
http://plantsnouveau.com/2009/...