There’s a mutant in my backyard.
It’s a purple coneflower. I planted it in 2020 and it’s one of my favorite plants. The vibrant purple petals emerge in midsummer and last through September. As each flower matures, the seed head—or cone—rises about an inch and a half above the petals, like a rounded chocolate kiss. The multiple stems of the plant are around three feet tall, with 36 flowers.
Unless you also count the mutants, in which case there are more flowers.
This year, bizarre, malformed flowers are growing right out of some seed heads. Flowers growing out of flowers.
I consulted the internet for a diagnosis. It could be caused by a microorganism called phytoplasma which is spread by insects. They suck fluids from the plant and then visit other plants infecting a new host. This disease is called aster yellows.
If that’s what my plant has, I’m advised to tear out the whole plant, roots and all, so the disease doesn’t affect the rest of my garden.
On the other hand, the mutation could be caused by a coneflower rosette mite. They’re microscopic and can just blow in on the wind. For mites, the best course of action may be to just live with the problem.
If I bought a microscope, I’d be able to see whether mites were present. Or I could send a sample away for a pcr test, that’s like a covid test, to see if the phytoplasma is present.
But one garden’s worth of coneflowers is not worth the investment.
What should I do with this imperfect knowledge? Should I tear out the coneflowers and possibly save the rest of the garden? Or should I spare my favorite plant and see what happens next year?
For now, I’m giving the plant rest, sunshine and plenty of fluids.
Special Thanks to Nathaniel J. Walton, PhD (he, him, his), Consumer Horticulture Educator, Michigan State University Extension, Suttons Bay, MI 49682 for assistance in identifying web resources.