These coneflower companions bloom from early summer to fall and the seed heads are attractive to foraging birds at season’s end.
Black-Eyed Susans
Black-Eyed Susan seeds are available from Botanical Interests.
Our black-eyed Susan growing guide has more details.
5. Blazing Star
Blazing star, Liatris spicata, aka gayfeather, liatris, and prairie star, is a North American native perennial with lavender, pink, purple, or white blossoms that cluster like bottle brushes at the tips of two- to four-foot stems.
Plants are 15 to 18 inches wide and make excellent companions for coneflowers.
Blazing star blooms from mid to late summer and is hardy in Zones 3 to 9.
‘Z-Scape’ Blazing Star
‘Z-Scape’ is a cultivar that provides vertical drama with vibrant purple spikes.
Seeds in a variety of packet sizes are available from True Leaf Market.
See our guide to growing blazing star for more information.
6. Boneset
Boneset, Eupatorium perfoliatum, is a North American native perennial in the aster family.
Its flattened umbels of copious, fluffy white flowers bloom from midsummer to fall, attracting all kinds of pollinators.
Boneset
Depending on the variety, these coneflower companion plants may reach dimensions of six feet tall and four feet wide. They are best suited to Zones 3 to 8.
You can find boneset seeds in packets of 100 available from Earthbeat Seeds.
Our boneset growing guide has cultivation instructions.
7. Catmint
Long-blooming Catmint, Nepeta spp., is an herb in the mint family with spikes of bluish-lavender or pink blossoms that bloom from spring to fall.
The flowers and leaves are edible. Another favorite of pollinators, catmint is a welcome coneflower companion that repels pests, including aphids and squash bugs.
Suited to Zones 3 to 9, plants mature to a height of two to four feet tall with a spread of four feet.
‘Blue Moon’ Catmint
‘Blue Moon’ offers mounds of upright spikes laden with tubular lavender blossoms that play well with daisy-like companion blooms.
You can find ‘Blue Moon’ seeds available from True Leaf Market.
See our guide to growing catmint for details.
8. Coreopsis
Coreopsis spp., aka tickseed, is a spring to fall blooming annual or perennial in the aster family suited to Zones 4 to 10.
Wiry stems sport daisy-like flowers with cream, pink, red, yellow, or bicolored rays around a central disk of tightly packed cylindrical blossoms.
Mature dimensions vary from one to three feet tall and wide.
‘Mercury Rising’ Coreopsis
Showy ‘Mercury Rising’ boasts luxurious, velvety wine-red rays highlighted by white tips that contrast beautifully with coneflowers.
You can find ‘Mercury Rising’ plants available from Burpee.
Our coreopsis growing guide has more information.
9. Cosmos
Cosmos, Cosmos spp., are summer to fall blooming annuals for Zones 2 to 11.
These members of the aster family have fine, airy foliage and feature delicate, broad, toothed rays around a central disk.
The palette includes orange, pink, purple, red, white, yellow, and bicolor combinations.
Plants grow one to six feet tall and one to three feet wide.
Seashells Blend Cosmos
Seashells Blend offers a “pretty in pink” tissue-paper panorama of rose- and white-hued fluted, torn-edge rays, adding texture amongst the coneflowers.
Seashells Blend cosmos seeds are available from Botanical Interests.
See our guide to growing cosmos for cultivation details.