Purple Coneflower
| Botanic name | Echinacea Purpurea |
| Also known as | Broad-leaved Purple Coneflower |
| Bloom color | purple, purple-pink petals around an orange center; with ripened seeds changes to dark brown |
| Bloom time |
July - September |
| Height | 3-4' tall |
| Growth habit | single plant increases in size, can be divided every 3-4 years, self seeds, easy to grow |
| Light | sun to part sun |
| Soil | moderate moisture, well drained, but tolerates a variety of growing conditions |
| Uses | excellent, long-blooming flower for massing in the border, meadow, native plant garden, prairie, or other naturalized areas |
| Attracts | butterflies, small birds, good nectar source |
| Other | Dead flower stems remain erect well into the winter if the flower heads are not removed. Goldfinches often perch on or just below the dark cones to eat the remaining seeds. Echinacea comes from the Greek word "echinos" meaning hedgehog in reference to the spiny, center cone. Can be divided every 3-4 years. There are several Purple Coneflower cultivars. For the native plant, be sure to ask for Echinacea purpurea with no other names added. |
| Photo credit | Joseph A. Marcus |