Echinacea angustifolia
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Echinacea pallida var. angustifolia
- Phonetic Spelling
- eh-ki-NAY-see-ah an-gus-tee-FOH-lee-uh
- Description
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Narrow Leaf Coneflower is a native meadow perennial found growing in dry prairies and barrens with rocky to sandy-clay soils in central Canada and the USA in the aster family. It has daisy-like blossoms on a single tall stalk in early summer. It bears copper-orange central cones surrounded by short, arching, ray petals in pink or purple-pink, and occasionally white."Echinacea" is derived from the Greek word echinos which means sea-urchin or hedgehog, referring to the pointy cone found in the center of flowers in this genus.
Grows well in deep, well-drained soil in full sun. It has a clumping habit, so divide clumps in spring every 3-4 years. Root cuttings can be made in autumn. It is tolerant of drought, heat, humidity, and poor soils. Deadheading prolongs flowering and cutting back stems will promote more flowering. This plant is a great addition to a pollinator, native, or meadow garden and will attract a variety of wildlife including birds, butterflies and bees. Coneflower is an important food source for the Silvery checkerspot caterpillar (Chlosyne nycteis)
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Leaf miners, powdery mildew, bacterial spots, and gray mold. Vine weevils may feed on roots.
- See this plant in the following landscapes:
- Collector’s Garden Flower Bonanza Garden
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Echinacea
- Species:
- angustifolia
- Family:
- Asteraceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Used by Native American traditional medicine.
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Root Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- North America
- Distribution:
- Central USA
- Wildlife Value:
- This plant supports Wavy-lined Emerald (Synchlora aerata) larvae. Native bees and butterflies are attracted to the nectar in the flowers, birds enjoy the seeds if they are left on the plant.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 0 ft. 10 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Wildflower
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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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
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- NC Region:
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Achene
- 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:
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Head
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Good Cut
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Radial
- Flower Petals:
- 7 - 20 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 3-6 inches
- Flower Description:
- Pink, purple, sometimes white ray flowers with a purple-brown cone of disk flowers in the center. The pollen color is yellow (which differentiates it from E. pallida's white pollen). The rays are narrow with notched tips and often droop downward.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Rough
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Green leaves are 4-6 inches long and narrow lanceolate to ovate in shape. They occur mostly basally on the lower 1/3 of the stem. They are hairy and rough feeling with 3 distinct veins.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Pink
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- Green ridged hairy stems are green but may be pink-tinged
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Songbirds
- Specialized Bees
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Heat
- Humidity
- Poor Soil
