This has got to be among the best plants out there. Beware of Aster Yellows, a disease that can infect coneflowers and cause strange mutations. As the disease worsens, flowers will look more and more alien. Infected plants do not produce viable seed, but the disease survives over winter in the roots and will eventually kill the plant. It spreads via leaf hoppers to other coneflowers and asters. Infected plants must be dug up and disposed of to prevent the spread.
This plant is showing symptoms of a disease called Aster Yellows which will spread to your other coneflowers and asters–if your coneflower looks like this, dig it up and dispose of it to stop the spread.
