In the winter, you don’t need to prune the flowers back. Instead, leave them standing with the grasses you planted with them. The way the snow lays on the big eyes of the coneflower and the way they turn brown give a new life to them that makes your garden a year round beauty. Plus, birds will continue to feed on the seeds throughout the cold months.
In terms of humans, everything from coneflower extract, dried root and tea can be used for medicinal purposes as treatment for coughs, colds, insect stings, animal bites, and skin diseases. But it most be used with caution especially if you are pregnant or thinking about getting pregnant. Always, always, always be careful when you use plants for medical reasons. Make sure to talk with experts in the field. If you aren’t sure how much or little to use, I’d suggest don’t use it at all.
The coneflower is a wonderful option for your yard. As an ornamental, you can decorate your yard to standout as one of the most attractive in the neighborhood. It adds value to the environment, offers food for other species and can even help you cure the common cold.