Harvest the flower while it’s in bloom and before it starts to fade. Keep in mind that echinacea is a valuable garden addition even before you harvest it. It attracts butterflies, provides seed for birds, and repels deer from your garden. [2] X Research source
Repeat this for each of the stems you want to harvest.
Do this for each whole plant you want to harvest. The plant will grow back the following year.
Check back once per week while the plant is in bloom to see if there are any older stems that could be harvested before they start to fade.
It is also best to dig up echinacea by the roots and divide the clumps once every 3 or 4 years. Time your root harvests in the spring or fall when the weather is cool. You may only get a few clumps from smaller plants or you may get several clumps from larger ones.
You may also dig a trench around the plant to loosen it up. Just be careful not to dig too close to it so that you do not damage the roots. Echinacea has wide and deep roots.
If a clump is too tough to break apart with your fingers, use a pair of garden shears to cut them apart. You may also want to shake away the excess dirt to make it easier to see the individual crowns.
Make sure that you plant the echinacea in an area of the ground or in a pot with soil that drains well. Avoid tightly packed or clay-type soils. Choose an area with full sun or place potted echinacea in a sunny window. Water the plant deeply after replanting it.
If your plant’s roots have lots of dirt on them still, you may want to take them outside and shake them off first. Don’t rinse lots of dirt down your drains because it will likely clog them.
Another option is to spread out the flowers on a well aerated flat surface, such as a screen that you have taken off the window, and place them outside to dry on a warm, sunny day ou. This should produce dry plants in only 1 to 2 days. Some people have also had success with drying their echinacea on a baking sheet left inside of their car. This may produce dry plants in as little as 1 day.
