Clasping Coneflower is a charming annual native to the prairies and roadsides of the American South and Midwest, from Georgia to Texas and north to Missouri and Kansas. Its distinctive leaves clasp directly around the stems, giving the plant its memorable common name. Standing 18 to 24 inches tall with a spread of 12 to 18 inches, it produces showy flowers that resemble the iconic Mexican hat, blooming reliably from June through November. Hardy in zones 2 through 11, this low-maintenance heirloom reaches full bloom in 84 to 112 days from seed, thriving in full sun with minimal fuss once established.
1
Full Sun
Moderate
2-11
24in H x 18in W
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High
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The defining trait that makes Clasping Coneflower special is right there in its name: leaves that embrace the stem rather than standing apart from it, creating an elegant, sculptural look uncommon in garden coneflowers. It tolerates drought, heat, and poor soils with ease, yet performs beautifully when given organically rich, evenly moist conditions. Butterflies and other pollinators flock to the showy two-inch flowers throughout the summer and fall, while deer leave it untouched. Deer resistance combined with the extended bloom window and minimal maintenance makes this native wildflower an effortless addition to naturalistic gardens and pollinator plantings.
Clasping Coneflower shines as an annual flower for gardens where butterflies and other pollinators are welcome. Its showy, long-blooming flowers make it valuable for cutting gardens and arrangements. The plant's drought tolerance and heat resilience suit it to prairie plantings, naturalized meadows, and low-maintenance borders where it can self-sow year after year.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Start seed indoors about 8 to 10 weeks before your last frost date. Keep soil temperatures between 60 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Surface sow the seeds as light aids germination, and expect sprouting in 10 to 30 days, though germination can be sporadic. Transplant seedlings into the garden after the last frost date has passed.
Move hardened-off seedlings into the garden after the last frost date when soil has warmed. Space plants 12 to 18 inches apart in full sun and well-drained soil.
Direct sow seed in the garden at the last frost date in spring, or in late fall in zones 8 to 10. Surface sow seeds to allow light to reach them.
Deadhead spent flowers throughout the bloom season to encourage continuous flowering and keep plants tidy. No hard pruning is necessary for this annual.
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“Dracopis amplexicaulis is a native wildflower that has thrived across the American landscape for generations, found naturally along roadsides, in waste areas, near streams, and in prairie ecosystems from Georgia west to Texas and north through Missouri and Kansas. Its distribution across such varied habitats in the central and southern United States speaks to its hardiness and adaptability. Gardeners and seed companies recognized its value as an ornamental and preserved it as an heirloom variety, bringing its wild charm into cultivation where it continues to flourish without the fuss of hybrid breeding. The plant's historical presence in Missouri prairies and its ongoing cultivation by heirloom seed conservators reflects its role as part of regional botanical heritage.”