Grey-Headed Coneflower

This simple yet striking perennial wildflower is native to southern Ontario and makes the perfect addition to native species and/or pollinator gardens. Latin name Ratibida pinnata, this member of the Aster family has a wide variety of alternative names you might know it by: Pinnate Prairie Coneflower, Yellow Coneflower, and Grey-Headed Mexican Hat. Seeds require a year to establish and add size; you are rewarded with a big bushy plant that will survive year after year, bursting with delicate yellow blooms that blossom early in the year. 

Grown organically with love and tenderness in the Bruce Peninsula, Ontario, Canada, in the summer of 2025. Germination tested December 2025. Minimum 50 seeds.

TIPS

• Cold stratification is a requirement to get proper germination rates from these seeds. There are many ways to accomplish this- e.g. scattering seeds in the fall before snow, or in late winter once the ground is visible. You can also cold stratify indoors using your fridge. If you are new to cold stratification, it's worth taking a bit of time to research further and find what method works for your growing style.
• Don't remove dead or dying flowers from your plant (often called "deadheading"); they provide valuable food to birds in fall and winter. Also, allowing native seeds to grow and spread is a small and important step in reestablishing our wildflower population. They are not invasive and will not overrun your garden or the local ecosystem.
• Plan for this plant to take up a lot of space once established! It grow 3-6 feet and bends out in every direction.
• If you have a large space to work with, you can follow an old adage I learned about wildflower gardening: always start your population with a minimum of 12 properly spaced plants.