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Echinacea purpurea

Phonetic Spelling
ek-in-AY-shee-ah pur-PUR-ee-ah
Description

Purple coneflower is an herbaceous perennial in the Asteraceae (daisy) family that is native to central and eastern United States. 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.

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:
Mostly Native Vegetable, Herb and 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 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 Bee Hive Garden, Wake Co Entryway Garden, Cabarrus County Extension Office
Cultivars / Varieties:
'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:
#purple#drought tolerant#white flowers#purple flowers#pink flowers#red flowers#native perennials#salt tolerant#tough plant#low maintenance#apvg#fire medium flammability#NC native#summer flowers#children's garden#playground plant#naturalizes#pollinator plant#native wildflower#fantz#flowers late spring#larval host plant#food source summer#food source fall#NC Native Pollinator Plant#food source nectar#food source pollen#food source hard mast fruit#butterfly friendly#nectar plant early summer#nectar plant midsummer#nectar plant late summer#HS302#apvg-p#bee friendly#Audubon#wavy-lined emerald butterfly#silvery checkerspot butterfly#stormwater demo garden orange co#perennial#landscape plant sleuths course#buncombe county sun and shade garden#wildlife friendly#accent#cpp
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
'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:
#purple#drought tolerant#white flowers#purple flowers#pink flowers#red flowers#native perennials#salt tolerant#tough plant#low maintenance#apvg#fire medium flammability#NC native#summer flowers#children's garden#playground plant#naturalizes#pollinator plant#native wildflower#fantz#flowers late spring#larval host plant#food source summer#food source fall#NC Native Pollinator Plant#food source nectar#food source pollen#food source hard mast fruit#butterfly friendly#nectar plant early summer#nectar plant midsummer#nectar plant late summer#HS302#apvg-p#bee friendly#Audubon#wavy-lined emerald butterfly#silvery checkerspot butterfly#stormwater demo garden orange co#perennial#landscape plant sleuths course#buncombe county sun and shade garden#wildlife friendly#accent#cpp
  • 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.
    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.
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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
    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