Does anyone have experience with leaving coneflowers in pots through the winter? Advisable? Burying the pots in the ground? We may be a week or three away from frost and I don't think that is enough time for a teansplant. Thoughts?

I bought two pots that were about a two-gallon size with Echinacea Cheyenne Spirit (hardy to zone 4) in them last fall at Lowes. Left them out all winter on the south side of the house and they did come back. Not sure if your zone 6a would be the same as mine, but we had a somewhat mild winter here in southern Indiana.

I thought they were dead, so I planted petunias in the pots this spring. Then I noticed the echinacea starting to grow in the pots. As I saw the starts popping up, I transplanted them to a spot in the garden. They did very well then. I have a couple of pictures, but I am at work, so will have to wait to post them.

Coneflower (Echinacea 'Cheyenne Spirit')

I find that echinacea transplanted after the beginning the beginning of Aug. in the north have a very low survival rate. I know another Bob who grows in containers and keeps them in a garage for the Winter and says that works. If you do put pot in the ground do it in an area that does not stay wet.

blue23rose said:
Echinacea Cheyenne Spirit (hardy to zone 4)

That is what most if them are...

[quote] Left them out all winter on the south side of the house and they did come back. [quote]

Not buried?

Echies are late to emerge.
I have found Cheyenne Spirit to be very reliable altho mine are in the ground not potted.
It multiplies good and the multicolored blooms look wonderful.

NJBob said:I find that echinacea transplanted after the beginning the beginning of Aug. in the north have a very low survival rate. I know another Bob who grows in containers and keeps them in a garage for the Winter and says that works. If you do put pot in the ground do it in an area that does not stay wet.

Good to know. Not terribly wet here in winter so might be fine. Soubds vetter than assuming they might take root and establish prior to frost.

NJBob said:I find that echinacea transplanted after the beginning the beginning of Aug. in the north have a very low survival rate. I know another Bob who grows in containers and keeps them in a garage for the Winter and says that works. If you do put pot in the ground do it in an area that does not stay wet.

Good to know. Not terribly wet here in winter so might be fine. Sounds better than assuming they might take root and establish prior to frost.

UrbanWild said:

That is what most if them are...

[quote] Left them out all winter on the south side of the house and they did come back. [quote]

Not buried?

No, these were not buried and the pot is a thin orange plastic that was supposed to look like a pumpkin. That was part of the reason I bought them.

So the roots will take being frozen solid? If so, I may just leave them on the deck!

Well, mine were up against the south side of my house. Our winter was considered somewhat mild last year. If you do that, just keep in mind what Jo Ann said earlier, that "echies are late to emerge". So don't give up on them until at least late May next year.