Tennessee Coneflower Echinacea tennesseensis
- Phonetic Spelling
- ek-in-AY-shee-a ten-eh-see-EN-sis
- Description
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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.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Echinacea
- Species:
- tennesseensis
- Family:
- Asteraceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Tennessee
- Wildlife Value:
- This plant supports Wavy-lined Emerald (Synchlora aerata) larvae. Flowers attract birds and butterflies.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Wildflower
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Low
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Orange
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Head
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Good Cut
- Good Dried
- Long Bloom Season
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Radial
- Flower Petals:
- more than 20 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- Bright purple ray florets with a pointy cone of orange disk flowers in the center in summer.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Rosulate
- Whorled
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Description:
- It has hairy dark green lanceolate leaves that form a basal whorl at the base with only a few leaves along stems.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Dry Soil