Native Plant Database

From the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Root Type: Fibrous
Size Class: 1-3 ft.
Size Notes: 2-5 feet
Leaf Color: Green

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Pink , Purple
Bloom Time: Apr , May , Jun , Jul , Aug , Sep

Distribution

USA: AL , AR , CT , FL , GA , IL , IN , IA , KS , KY , LA , MD , MI , MS , MO , NJ , NY , NC , OH , OK , PA , SC , TN , TX , VA , WV , WI
Canada: ON , QC
Native Distribution: FL to extreme n.e. TX, n. to VA, OH, IL & IA
Native Habitat: Extreme northeast Texas. Well-drained limestone, sand, clay, loam. Rocky, open woods; thickets; prairies
USDA Native Status: L48(N), CAN(I)

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Medium
Light Requirement: Sun , Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Dry
CaCO3 Tolerance: Low
Soil Description: Well-drained, sandy or richer soils.
Conditions Comments: Echinacea is a suitable addition to a prairie garden and attractive in flower arrangements. It is a popular perennial with smooth stems and long-lasting, lavender flowers. Rough, scattered leaves that become small toward the top of the stem. Flowers occur singly atop the stems and have domed, purplish-brown, spiny centers and drooping, lavender rays. Purple coneflower can become very aggressive.
Texas comments: Purple coneflower is a suitable addition to a prairie garden and attractive in flower arrangements. Its lavender flowers are long-lasting. It reseeds easily and should be cut back to the rosette after the seeds have fallen.

Benefit

Use Wildlife: Echinacea spp. attract butterflies and hummingbirds.
Use Medicinal: Extracts thought to improve white blood count. Echinacin stops bacteria from forming the hyaluronidase enzyme, which helps make cells more susceptible to infection. It’s a mild natural antibiotic. Small amounts taken a few times daily are better than large dose
Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Nectar Source: yes
Deer Resistant: None

Propagation

Propagation Material: Seeds
Description: Seeds may be sown outside in late fall or stored, stratified and sown in the spring. Plants can be multiplied by making root divisions in early spring however division seems to stimulate the development of too many stems and too few flowers.
Seed Collection: Collect mature seedheads in the fall and break them open to extract seeds.
Seed Treatment: Cold-moist stratification for two months improves germination.
Commercially Avail: yes

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PlantWise: Native Alternatives to Invasive Plants

Echinacea purpurea (Eastern purple coneflower) is a PlantWise native alternative for:

   Leucanthemum vulgare (oxeye daisy)
   Leucanthemum vulgare (oxeye daisy)

Find Seed or Plants

Order seed of this species from Native American Seed and help support the Wildflower Center.

Find seed sources for this species at the Native Seed Network.

Mr. Smarty Plants says

Question: We recently were required to put in a new septic system on our vacation property in Door County, WI. This left us with a clearing on our wooded lot where the septic field is now located. The installers said it was too late to plant wildflowers on this plot(weeds as he called them) so they planted grass seed instead. My question is, are there native varieties of wildflowers (such as Queen Anne's Lace, Wild Phlox or others) that could have been planted as late as July or could still be planted this coming Fall? If so I would welcome your suggestions. I am definitely not happy with the stringy unnatural-looking lawn I see emerging in the middle of our nicely wooded lot. Thank you in advance for your reply. Charlan Hamill
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Question: What are suggestions for plants to plant around utilities boxes (3 of them clustered together) to effectively camouflage them but be attractive. We will outline a larger area in brick, plant evergreens behind the boxes and something in front. Looking for a couple perennials and an alternative to ornamental grass?
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Question: We have a garden plant that is 18 inches high with a purple coned shaped flower sticking straight into the air. Can someone help us identify it?
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Question: I need to identify a wildflower from each region that we can package in custom packaging to use as giveaways at our member zoos and aquariums. Our project this year is called Conservation Made Simple and it focuses on backyard habitats. We would love to have flowering seeds that are critter friendly, non-invasive, etc. I understand that one size does not fit all, but am not expert enough to identify one per region. Can you help me?
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Question: What kinds of medicinal plants do you have at the Wildflower Center?
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From the National Suppliers Directory

According to the inventory provided by Associate Suppliers, this plant is available at the following locations:

Wrights Nursery - Briggs, TX
Amandas Garden - Springwater, NY
Sunshine Farm & Gardens - Renick, WV

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

Delaware Nature Society - Hockessin, DE
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - Austin, TX
Native Plant Center at Westchester Community College, The - Valhalla, NY
Texas Discovery Gardens - Dallas, TX
United States Botanic Garden - Washington, DC
Native Plant Society of Texas - Fredericksburg, TX

Bibliography

Gardening with Prairie Plants: How to Create Beautiful Native Landscapes (2002) Wasowski, S.
* Native Alternatives to Invasive Plants (2006) Burrell, C. C.
* Native Texas Plants: Landscaping Region by Region (2002) Wasowski, S. & A. Wasowski

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Recommended Species Lists

Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.

View Recommended Species page

Additional resources

USDA: Find Echinacea purpurea in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Echinacea purpurea in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Echinacea purpurea