Purple coneflower problem - Ask Extension
The flowers on most of my Echinacea purpurea are distorted or stunted. They bloomed well last year, but so far I have only a few normal flowers. Mos...
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Purple coneflower problem #795547
Asked June 12, 2022, 1:53 PM EDT
The flowers on most of my Echinacea purpurea are distorted or stunted. They bloomed well last year, but so far I have only a few normal flowers. Most don't have petals yet and the few that do have petals are distorted. Do the attached photos look like aster yellows? Should I remove my Echinacea plants? Thanks.
Montgomery County Maryland
Expert Response
Hi Diane!
We can't tell from the photos if this is asters yellow. The distorted and discolored petals in the last photo look like it, but it might be too early to tell. My echinacea have a similar look to them, but they do not have asters yellow - they're just in that weird phase right before bloom.
The Coneflower Rosette Eriophyid mite causes similar damage - compare the second photo with the mite damage photos here: https://bygl.osu.edu/index.php/node/1634
If you want to exercise caution, you can remove the plant to avoid potential spread. Keep an eye out on any other aster family plants you have in your yard in case symptoms pop up elsewhere.
Jamie
