DD, Coneflowers like full sun. I divided several of mine this Spring. They took awhile but as soon as we hit 80 degrees and had several days straight of baking sun they shot up. As far as the soil, I find mine do best in clay dirt with some peat mixed in. I don't know what kind you have but purple cone flowers as I understand it are close to an herb and have medicinal qualities (Echinacia). 90% of my herbs and medicinal plants thrive best in poor soil and no fertilizer.

I really do appreciate your post treehugger because I have just
Come back inside after finding a perfect spot in front of a bed
Of long-term heritage seed Shasta Daisies.

This bed is beside the gunite pool and it has the right clay/soil/sand
Mix for the coneflowers to be transplanted into.They will remain there
As long as they survive in a row 16-18"apt for the space between
Flowers.I have already dug up abt 1/2 the length of the row.

They will get full sun,but in south Alabama that can mean(almost )Texas
Hot! But we are on the gulf plain and get lots of rain.

Zinnias grow well here if they are not flooded out earlier on.
I grow the most heavy stem and tall Zinnia I can find so large
Butterflies like Tigers can land on a flower that will not bend over.

I will ease the cones from their abt 10" plastic pots with their potting mix
Kept around them and settle them in with gentle watering;we have well
Water( no chemicals).

I will probably have to dig more than one bed but that's ok.

I have wanted coneflowers because I have the wild sunflowers
Also I have grown the tall Mexican Tithonia with good results.

So thanks again for the "Try this"

DD

Coneflowers can take a while to get to their mature height/width--you won't have a flowering plant probably until next year, and they will continue to mature another year.

They develop extensive root systems which is what it's busy doing right now. They are worth the wait. :)