Echinacea simulata Play pronunciation

Prairie purple coneflower is an herbaceous perennial in the daisy family (Asteraceae) that is native to the central midwestern United States. It grows in mixed open woodlands, glades, barrens and prairies. At maturity, individual plants have a clumping form and can reach a height of 3 feet with a 2 foot spread. The plant features long narrow green leaves and large pink blossoms with orange centers that bloom in mid-summer The species epithet is Latin for "simulate" and is likely in reference to this species' resemblance to the pale purple coneflower (Echinacea pallida).

It prefers evenly moist, well-drained soil (sand, loam, or clay), full sun or partial shade, and nearly any pH. It flowers best in full sun. Once established, it tolerates prolonged droughts. It has a long taproot, so it may be difficult to transplant. Consider sowing seeds directly in place or planting out very young plugs. As the plant is mostly unbranched, consider planting it among similarly sized grasses or other plants to give the coneflower some support. The clumps can become overcrowded, but can easily be divided. The blooms can be deadheaded, but if left in place, the plant will freely self seed.

The prairie coneflowers are showy and work well as cut flowers or in dried floral arrangements. The flowers are attractive to bees, butterflies, and assorted other pollinators, and the seed heads are beloved by goldfinches and other finches. The prairie coneflower is very similar to the pale purple coneflower (E. pallida). In the prairie coneflower, the rays are narrower, the pollen is yellow and the fruits of the ray flowers are hairy. In the pale purple coneflower, the rays are a bit wider, the pollen is whitish and the fruits of the ray flowers are hairless.

The plants are excellent for borders, naturalistic or prairie-style gardens, wildflower gardens and pollinator gardens. If the dead flowers are left on the stems over winter, birds will often perch to eat the seeds.

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:  

Plant problems may include Japanese Beetles and powdery mildew, fungal and bacterial leaf spots.