Echinacea purpurea
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- eh-ki-NAY-see-ah pur-PUR-ee-ah
- Description
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Purple coneflower is an herbaceous perennial in the Asteraceae (daisy) family that is native to the central and eastern United States. The Genus name is Greek for meaning 'spiny one' and the species name means reddish-purple.
It may grow 3 to 4 feet tall and produce pinkish-purple flowers that mature in early summer through mid-fall. This plant prefers well-drained, moist loam but is adaptable to various soil types. It is drought tolerant once established and can grow in full sun to partial shade. It is also deer, heat, humidity, and salt resistant. Easily propagated by seed, it will reseed itself in the garden.
The attractive ray petals surround a center of dark purplish brown disc flowers in summer and are long-lasting.
This is a popular and long-blooming plant for use as a border or in groupings in a native or pollinator garden, meadow, and naturalized areas. Many cultivars are available for varied sizes and colors. Several pollinators are attracted to the flower, especially butterflies. Leave some of the flower heads on to produce seeds for the birds.
Quick ID Hints:
- Erect herb has terminal, brown-domed heads
- Ray flowers grow in 1 to 2 rows, often purplish, spreading-drooping
- Leaves are rough to touch
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Japanese beetles and leaf spot are occasional problems. It is susceptible to aster yellows disease (see photo of disease symptoms). Some cultivars have shown excellent resistance to phytophthora. See Phytophthora Root and Crown Rot in the Landscape.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscapes:
- Vegetable, Herb and Mostly Native Pollinator Garden Native Plant Demonstration Garden All Saints' Episcopal Church Butterfly Garden at Rob Wallace Park Crowder Park Prairie and Native Plants Garden Davidson County Extension Demonstration Garden Sun to Shade Garden in Craven County HOA Butterfly Garden in Brunswick County Extension Master Gardener℠ Demonstration Garden, Durham Co. Pollinator Garden in Full Sun Pollinator Garden in Partial Shade Paul J Ciener Botanical Garden Small Water Features Beehive Garden, Wake Co Entryway Garden, Cabarrus County Extension Office
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Alba'
White flowers - 'Amazing Dream'
- 'Avalanche'
White flowers - 'Bright Star'
Taller, petals held more horizontal - 'Bright Star'
Dwarf with rosy-pink flowers
'Cheyenne Spirit'
- Echinachea purpurea 'Hot Papaya' - PP#21,022
Orange-Red Ray & Disc florets - Fragrant Angel
Clean white rays, excellent fragrance - 'Glowing Dream'
- 'Harvest Moon'
Golden yellow flower, orange cones - 'Hot Papaya'
3' chili pepper red, double, drooping with pom pom center - ‘Kim’s Knee High’
- 'Kismet Raspberry' PP 28,768 ('TNECHKR')
- ‘Magnus’
- POW WOW
Drooping petals - medium plant height - 'Purity'
- Ruby Star
Red to purple rays, dark brown cone - 'Secret Affair'
- 'Sundown'
Large russet orange rays - 'Tiki Torch'
Bright orange - 'White Swan'
Large flowers, slightly drooping petals
Multiple colors on each plant. Resistant to phytophthora.
Various shades of yellow flowers 'PAS702917' Powwow Wildberry
Rosy pink flowers. Resistant to phytophthora. - 'Alba'
- 'Alba', 'Amazing Dream', 'Avalanche', 'Bright Star', 'Bright Star', 'Cheyenne Spirit', Echinachea purpurea 'Hot Papaya' - PP#21,022, Fragrant Angel, 'Glowing Dream', 'Harvest Moon', 'Hot Papaya', ‘Kim’s Knee High’, 'Kismet Raspberry' PP 28,768 ('TNECHKR'), ‘Magnus’, 'Mellow Yellows', 'PAS702917' Powwow Wildberry, POW WOW, 'Purity', Ruby Star, 'Secret Affair', 'Sundown', 'Tiki Torch', 'White Swan'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Alba'
White flowers - 'Amazing Dream'
- 'Avalanche'
White flowers - 'Bright Star'
Taller, petals held more horizontal - 'Bright Star'
Dwarf with rosy-pink flowers
'Cheyenne Spirit'
- Echinachea purpurea 'Hot Papaya' - PP#21,022
Orange-Red Ray & Disc florets - Fragrant Angel
Clean white rays, excellent fragrance - 'Glowing Dream'
- 'Harvest Moon'
Golden yellow flower, orange cones - 'Hot Papaya'
3' chili pepper red, double, drooping with pom pom center - ‘Kim’s Knee High’
- 'Kismet Raspberry' PP 28,768 ('TNECHKR')
- ‘Magnus’
- POW WOW
Drooping petals - medium plant height - 'Purity'
- Ruby Star
Red to purple rays, dark brown cone - 'Secret Affair'
- 'Sundown'
Large russet orange rays - 'Tiki Torch'
Bright orange - 'White Swan'
Large flowers, slightly drooping petals
Multiple colors on each plant. Resistant to phytophthora.
Various shades of yellow flowers 'PAS702917' Powwow Wildberry
Rosy pink flowers. Resistant to phytophthora. - 'Alba'
- 'Alba', 'Amazing Dream', 'Avalanche', 'Bright Star', 'Bright Star', 'Cheyenne Spirit', Echinachea purpurea 'Hot Papaya' - PP#21,022, Fragrant Angel, 'Glowing Dream', 'Harvest Moon', 'Hot Papaya', ‘Kim’s Knee High’, 'Kismet Raspberry' PP 28,768 ('TNECHKR'), ‘Magnus’, 'Mellow Yellows', 'PAS702917' Powwow Wildberry, POW WOW, 'Purity', Ruby Star, 'Secret Affair', 'Sundown', 'Tiki Torch', 'White Swan'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Echinacea
- Species:
- purpurea
- Family:
- Asteraceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- This was an important plant to the Native Americans to treat may ailments. Early settlers used the medicinal root for almost any kind of sickness. It became the only native prairie plant commonly used by both doctors and folk practitioners as medicine. People also used echinacea to support cows and horses when they weren't eating well.
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Root Cutting
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eastern and central USA
- Distribution:
- AL , AR , CT , FL , GA , IA , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MD , MI , MO , MS , NC , NJ , NY , OH , OK , PA , SC , TN , TX , VA , WI , WV
- Fire Risk Rating:
- medium flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- Its flowers are attractive to bees, butterflies and other pollinators. This plant supports Silvery Checkerspot (Chlosyne nycteis) larvae which has two broods from May-September. The adults feed on nectar from red clover, common milkweed, and dogbane. This plant also supports Wavy-lined Emerald (Synchlora aerata) larvae. Songbirds, especially American goldfinches, eat the seeds. Slightly deer resistant.
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Attracts Pollinators
- Easy to Grow
- Wildlife Food Source
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Some cultivars resistant to phytophthora. Deer
- Edibility:
- Herbaceous parts may be steeped as a tea
- Dimensions:
- Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herb
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Wildflower
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Coarse
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil pH:
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Good Dried
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Achene
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Seeds produced in the center cone are small, dark, 4 sided achenes that are attractive to birds.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gold/Yellow
- Orange
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Head
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Good Cut
- Good Dried
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Radial
- Flower Petals:
- 7 - 20 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 3-6 inches
- Flower Description:
- Flowers occur singly atop stiff stems and have domed, purplish-brown, spiny disc flowers in the center and drooping, lavender rays around them in daisy-like fashion. Blooms are up to 5 inches across. Many cultivars exist most commonly in shades of white, pink, and purple but also red, orange, and yellow. Flower blooms from June to August.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Rough
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Cuneate
- Elliptical
- Lanceolate
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Dentate
- Entire
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- 3-8 inch long alternate, simple, dark green, scabrous leaves. The lower leaves are winged petiolate (with stems) and are ovate to broadly lanceolate, tip narrowly acute, broad cuneate base, and margins denticulate to coarsely toothed. The upper cauline (stem) leaves are reduced in size, narrower with a short petiolate to sessile (no stem) and nearly entire margins.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- The light green stems have small purple streaks and scattered white hairs.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Recreational Play Area
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Children's Garden
- Cottage Garden
- Cutting Garden
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rain Garden
- Rock Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Heat
- Humidity
- Poor Soil
- Salt
