Coneflower is a butterfly magnet and is welcome in borders with other summer bloomers or added to meadow plantings of grasses and other pollinator favorites. A host plant to some butterfly caterpillars, they attract beneficial insects, bumblebees and the stiff stems add bee-friendly nesting sites. They handle hot summer weather and are often cut and added to bouquets. The bristly cone centers are wonderfully decorative and offer seeds for goldfinches later in the season. As summer progresses, stop deadheading to develop an abundance of ripe seed heads. It self-sows onto the bare ground for a growing patch over time. Cut back dead stems in early spring and divide if needed in spring or early fall.