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Black-samson Echinacea Echinacea angustifolia

Previously known as:

  • Echinacea pallida var. angustifolia
Phonetic Spelling
ek-in-AY-see-a an-gus-tee-FOH-lee-uh
Description

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:
Flower Bonanza Garden Collector’s Garden
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#showy flowers#heat tolerant#drought tolerant#pink flowers#nectar plant#coneflower#mass planting#showy fruits#specialized bees#daisy-like#vibrant#border planting#cutting garden#pollinator plant#flowers midsummer#poor soils tolerant#larval host plant#food source fall#flowers early summer#humidity tolerant#butterfly friendly#bee friendly#wavy-lined emerald butterfly#butterfly caterpillar host#wildlife friendly#meadow
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#showy flowers#heat tolerant#drought tolerant#pink flowers#nectar plant#coneflower#mass planting#showy fruits#specialized bees#daisy-like#vibrant#border planting#cutting garden#pollinator plant#flowers midsummer#poor soils tolerant#larval host plant#food source fall#flowers early summer#humidity tolerant#butterfly friendly#bee friendly#wavy-lined emerald butterfly#butterfly caterpillar host#wildlife friendly#meadow
  • 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.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Herbaceous Perennial
    Wildflower
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
    Maintenance:
    Low
    Texture:
    Medium
  • 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
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Type:
    Achene
    Fruit Description:
    Seeds produced in the center cone are small, dark, 4-sided achenes that are attractive to birds.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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
  • 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