Echinacea purpurea /purˈpur.ea/
Common name: Purple coneflower · Eastern purple coneflower · Hedgehog coneflower
Echinacea purpurea is a herbaceous perennial in the aster family (Asteraceae), native to the central and eastern United States. It bears showy flower heads with drooping purple-pink ray florets surrounding a prominent spiny orange-brown central cone, blooming from early summer into autumn. It is one of the most widely grown ornamental perennials in temperate gardens and is also cultivated commercially for use in herbal supplements. Its flowers attract bees and butterflies, and its seed heads feed goldfinches in winter.
Care summary
Sun
Full sun to light partial shade
Water
Low to moderate; drought-tolerant once established
Soil
Well-drained, average to poor soil; dislikes wet feet
Hardiness
Zones 3–8
Mature height
About 60–120 cm (2–4 ft)
Pet safe
Generally considered non-toxic to cats and dogs
Difficulty
Easy
Propagation
Easily grown from seed sown in autumn or spring; a few weeks of cold stratification improves germination. Mature clumps can be divided in early spring or autumn, and root cuttings taken in late autumn also work.
Fun facts
- The genus name Echinacea comes from the Greek "echinos," meaning hedgehog or sea urchin, referring to the spiky central cone.
- It was one of the most important medicinal plants of Great Plains Native American tribes and later became a staple of 19th-century American herbal medicine.
- Modern plant breeding has produced cultivars in white, orange, red, and yellow, plus double-flowered forms.
- Leaving the seed heads standing over winter provides food for American goldfinches and other small birds.