The centers of my beautiful echinecea are all turning black and warty looking, very ugly, and the bees and butterflies won't even come to them now. I have a feeling it's the work of a tiny worm (because I've spotted several of them on the centers) but I don't know. The pretty centers just turn mushy, and even the brand new buds have it as soon as they open now. Any thoughts? Please help, I was so proud of my echinecea when it first bloomed, it was the best I've ever had!
? I wish I knew, I hope someone can tell you. ANYONE? (siren's blowing, lights flashing) - I've never seen anything like it!
I found some kind of tiny black worm/caterpillar on my Sunrise yesterday. It was covered, Yuck!!!! Today I noticed bug poop all over several leaves. I wish I would have taken a pic.
Sounds like the same thing, Nanny.... Oh, (light bulb) ... have you posted on the bug forum Thea?
I'll try that AuntB, thanks, I didn't think of that!!!
Any luck figuring out what was happening with your coneflowers?
Well pennefeather, all I could find were the tiny little worms in the center of each one, burrowing deep within the cone. I don't know what they are the larval form of, but they're nasty little buggers, and they destroyed each bloom!! I cut off all the blooms I had, and I have a new one just opening and it looks good for now! But it's late in the season and I don't think I'll get many more blooms now; I'm mad that the best coneflowers I've ever had got so destroyed!
Thanks for asking, have you had this problem too?
I had this problem last year, but never figured out what it was. I know I could spray for it, but then the flowers would be ruined for the butterlfies, which is the reason I am growing them in the first place!
llloquin, I'm going to grow more echinecea this year, from seed, and I HOPE I don't have the same problem!! I too am growing my flowers for the butterflies and bees, so I can't use stuff strong enough to kill these pests, I really hope I have better luck this year!!
My echinecea wasn't very good last year either. Different problem, no bugs, just looking spindly and unhappy. I don't use any sprays. We'll see what 2008 brings.
