Tennessee Coneflower Echinacea tennesseensis

This relatively slow-growing herbaceous perennial is in the Asteraceae family.  "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.

Stems are topped with erect pink-purple ray flowers (many Echinacea's ray flowers bend backward) and bright orange disk cones from June to August.  It will cross-pollinate with other Echinaceas.  It was once listed as an endangered species but conservation efforts have removed it from that list.  This Tenessee native is similar to E. purpurea (native to Missouri), except it is less vigorous and smaller,  with more linear and narrow leaves and a vertical rootstock, and those outward-facing ray flowers.  If you want to harvest and grow plants from seed it has to be planted several miles away from other Echinacea plants as they will crossbreed and will not grow true to type.  

Mass plant this perennial in a border, or let it naturalize in a meadow, or in a woodland garden.

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:  No serious problems.  Japanese beetles are occasional pests.  Leaf spot occurs rarely.