Conostylis
( koh - no - STYE - liss )
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At-A-Glance InformationThis genus, filled with perennial species commonly called Coneflower, is endemic to southwestern West Australia. These plants produce leathery, strap-like leaves that are typically green to grey-green and small yellow, cream, orange, or purple blooms. Coneflowers need somewhat regular waterings and grow best in full sun to light shade. Use coneflowers in mixed beds or borders, massed together on slopes, or as members of pollinator, low-water use, or informal landscapes. They are also grown in containers and rock gardens. These flowers will draw bees, butterflies, and other pollinators to the garden.
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Conostylis Species and Varietals
Conostylis is a genus in the Bloodwort plant family (Haemodoraceae) and includes around 45 accepted species. They are closely related to Anigozanthos, or Kangaroo Paw. The best growing zones for Conostylis are USDA hardiness zones 9-11. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.
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Conostylis aculeata (Prickly Conostylis, Cottonhead, Golden Cotton Head) This species forms a clump of green to blue-green foliage that reaches up to 2 feet tall and about half as wide. Flowers are yellow, and bloom in dense clusters atop decumbent stems. Blooms are present between the months of August and November in the plant's native range. |
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Conostylis candicans (Grey Cottonhead, Grey Cottonheads) These flowering plants are native to southwestern West Australia, and produce grey-green foliage. Leaves are narrow and form in loose clusters on stems. Blooms are present on plants from August through November and form in dense heads atop stems that rise above the foliage clump. Flowers are bright yellow. |
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Conostylis setigera (Bristly Cottonhead, Cotton Star-Flower) This clumping perennial plant produces grey to blue-green grassy, linear foliage and is native to southwest West Australia. Individual plants grow from rhizomes, which spread slowly, and reach up to 14 inches tall. Flowers are white with golden-yellow centers, opening from tan-pink buds. Blooms are present on plants from August through November in the species' native range. |
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Conostylis setosa (White Cottonhead, Cotton Star-Flower, Cotton Star) This rhizomatous grass-like species of plants is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. Individual plants reach up to about a foot tall, and produce flowering stems that are topped with white or pink-maroon to purple flowers. Blooms pop in September and are present through November in the species' native range. |
Caring for Conostylis
Plant Conostylis flowers in a space in the landscape that receives full sun; ideally, they appreciate between 6 and 8 hours of sun each day for the best blooms. Ensure that soil is well-draining, rich in nutrients, and has a pH of between 6.0 and 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral). These plants prefer soil that is on the rocky or sandy side. If local soils are particularly poor in nutrients or do not drain well, make sure to amend the planting area with plenty of organic compost and sand before installing. Apply a layer of mulch around the planting area to suppress weed growth, maintain consistent soil temperatures, and to increase soil moisture retention. Water new plantings regularly as they establish a strong root system in their new home. At maturity, these plants are considered drought-tolerant, able to get by for much of the year on rainwater alone with supplemental irrigation supplied during extended periods of drought.
Fertilize yearly in early springtime with an application of 2 inches of compost around the base of plants. Pull mulch back before applying, work the compost gently into the soil a bit, water it in, and then replace mulch. Pruning is simple; remove any damaged, diseased, or dead foliage at any time during the growing season, and remove spent flower stems to neaten up the appearance of plants and encourage reblooms. Conostylis flowers are considered long-lived perennials, and can last many years (even decades) in the garden before needing to be replaced. They will freely reseed in the landscape, providing flowers and foliage indefinitely in informal garden spaces.
Caring for Conostylis in Containers
Conostylis flowers can be grown in containers; choose a container that is at least a few inches wider and deeper than the nursery pot or root ball. Ensure that the pot has adequate drainage holes on the bottom to allow for excess water to flow away. Fill with a well-draining potting mix amended with organic material and perlite, and top with a layer of mulch to suppress weed growth, maintain consistent soil temperatures, and to increase soil moisture retention. These flowers can also be grown in a rocky or sandy substrate. Water regularly as these flowers establish themselves in their new home. Once established, waterings can be lessened. Conostylis plants grown in containers will need more frequent irrigation than those grown in the ground, though they are still considered quite drought-tolerant, able to get by on rainwater alone for much of the year. As a general rule of thumb, water whenever the top few inches of soil feels dry to the touch, and allow soil to dry out between waterings.
Prune to remove dead, damaged, or diseased foliage at any time during the growing season. Every few years, check the bottom of the pot to ensure that the plant is not outgrowing its root space. If roots are growing through the drainage holes in the bottom of the container, it is a good indication that it needs to be potted up; choose a slightly larger container and repot. Conostylis flowers grow from underground rhizome roots and after a few years will need to be divided. A great time to divide Conostylis is when they are repotted; for instructions on how to successfully divide Conostylis plants, see the Propagation section below.
Fertilize yearly in early springtime with an application of 2 inches of compost around the base of plants. Pull mulch back before applying, work the compost gently into the soil a bit, water it in, and then replace mulch. Pruning is simple; remove any damaged, diseased, or dead foliage at any time during the growing season, and remove spent flower stems to neaten up the appearance of plants and encourage reblooms. Conostylis flowers are considered long-lived perennials, and can last many years (even decades) in the garden before needing to be replaced. They will freely reseed in the landscape, providing flowers and foliage indefinitely in informal garden spaces.
Caring for Conostylis in Containers
Conostylis flowers can be grown in containers; choose a container that is at least a few inches wider and deeper than the nursery pot or root ball. Ensure that the pot has adequate drainage holes on the bottom to allow for excess water to flow away. Fill with a well-draining potting mix amended with organic material and perlite, and top with a layer of mulch to suppress weed growth, maintain consistent soil temperatures, and to increase soil moisture retention. These flowers can also be grown in a rocky or sandy substrate. Water regularly as these flowers establish themselves in their new home. Once established, waterings can be lessened. Conostylis plants grown in containers will need more frequent irrigation than those grown in the ground, though they are still considered quite drought-tolerant, able to get by on rainwater alone for much of the year. As a general rule of thumb, water whenever the top few inches of soil feels dry to the touch, and allow soil to dry out between waterings.
Prune to remove dead, damaged, or diseased foliage at any time during the growing season. Every few years, check the bottom of the pot to ensure that the plant is not outgrowing its root space. If roots are growing through the drainage holes in the bottom of the container, it is a good indication that it needs to be potted up; choose a slightly larger container and repot. Conostylis flowers grow from underground rhizome roots and after a few years will need to be divided. A great time to divide Conostylis is when they are repotted; for instructions on how to successfully divide Conostylis plants, see the Propagation section below.
Propagation
Conostylis flowers are most easily propagated by seed or division. These plants will reproduce asexually via creeping underground rhizomes, and clumps can be divided from time to time for planting elsewhere or simply to control spread. They will also freely re-seed in the garden, and volunteer seedlings can be dug up and transplanted elsewhere. To propagate your Coneflowers, follow the directions below:
Propagating Conostylis by Seed
Before trying this method, keep in mind that propagation by seed does not ensure that you will end up with the exact same plant as you harvested the seed from. If you are looking for an exact clone of the parent plant, propagate by division. To complete this propagation method, you will need to allow the flowers to stay on the plant long enough to come to seed, so do not deadhead all of your flowers. Seeds will be mature and ready to harvest in late summer, when the flowers have dried and are brown in color. Cut the flower heads off of your plant at this time, and take the seeds out of their pods. To grow Conostylis from seed, follow these directions:
Propagating Conostylis by Division
Division is probably the easiest way to propagate these plants. The idea behind this method is that you are taking an existing clump of live plants and breaking it into smaller segments. This is something you will want to do whether or not you are looking to propagate the plant, as they need to be divided every so often for health reasons. Otherwise, the roots will become too crowded. Division should be attempted only when the plant is not in its blooming period. To use this method, you will need a clean shovel, clean pruning saw, extra pots if you are not going to immediately plant your divisions in the ground, and well-draining soil to fill the pots (again, if you will not be planting your divisions directly into the ground). To propagate your Coneflowers by division, follow the instructions below:
Propagating Conostylis by Seed
Before trying this method, keep in mind that propagation by seed does not ensure that you will end up with the exact same plant as you harvested the seed from. If you are looking for an exact clone of the parent plant, propagate by division. To complete this propagation method, you will need to allow the flowers to stay on the plant long enough to come to seed, so do not deadhead all of your flowers. Seeds will be mature and ready to harvest in late summer, when the flowers have dried and are brown in color. Cut the flower heads off of your plant at this time, and take the seeds out of their pods. To grow Conostylis from seed, follow these directions:
- Gather your materials. You will need a pot or seed tray and well-draining potting soil.
- If you are growing just a few seeds, you can use a pot, though if you are growing more than just a few, use a growing tray. Prepare your pot or growing tray by filling it with well-draining potting soil.
- Place your seeds on top of the potting mix, spaced about 4- 6 inches apart. Sprinkle potting medium over the top until the seeds are just lightly dusted. As the seeds are starting out, it is best to use a spray bottle to add moisture to avoid uncovering their light soil topping. Keep the soil moist as the seeds develop.
- Continue to monitor for moisture and adequate soil covering until the seeds start to sprout, which should take about 5 weeks. Once the chance of frost has passed by, seedlings can be transplanted to a sunny area of the garden. Keep the soil moist as the plant develops in the landscape.
Propagating Conostylis by Division
Division is probably the easiest way to propagate these plants. The idea behind this method is that you are taking an existing clump of live plants and breaking it into smaller segments. This is something you will want to do whether or not you are looking to propagate the plant, as they need to be divided every so often for health reasons. Otherwise, the roots will become too crowded. Division should be attempted only when the plant is not in its blooming period. To use this method, you will need a clean shovel, clean pruning saw, extra pots if you are not going to immediately plant your divisions in the ground, and well-draining soil to fill the pots (again, if you will not be planting your divisions directly into the ground). To propagate your Coneflowers by division, follow the instructions below:
- Identify the area of plants you're going to divide. Start by loosening the soil around the plant with your shovel, working your way inward to avoid causing damage to the roots. Once you've gotten the clump of Coneflower out of the ground, lay it out on its side.
- Divide the clump into segments, either with your shovel or with a pruning saw, as many as you'd like as long as there is at least one viable 'shoot' per segment. Inspect each segment to ensure health, trimming off any diseased or dying parts and lay them out on the ground.
- If you will be planting your Coneflower division in the ground, this is when you'll prepare your new hole. Dig a hole (large enough to accommodate the root ball of the clump you are planting) in the ground with your shovel in a sunny location with soil that is well-draining. Backfill and water generously.
- If you are transporting your division elsewhere, or hanging on to it until you're ready to plant it, you'll need your pot filled with potting soil. Dig a hole large enough to accommodate the root ball of your division, and place your new plant in the soil. Water generously, ensuring that adequate drainage is occurring. Place the pot in a sunny location until you are ready to plant it in the ground.
Problems and Pests
Conostylis plants are typically pest and disease free additions to the landscape, though they can suffer from issues with the following from time to time;
- Powdery Mildew
- Slugs and Snails
- Scale
- Psyllids
Gallery
These plants are low-water use superstars.
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Conostylis plants are commonly grown in rock gardens.
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Here, Conostylis flowers are used in a mixed pollinator bed.
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