Eastern Purple Coneflower

(Echinacea purpurea)

Eastern Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)

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Estimated Native Range
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Summary

Echinacea purpurea, commonly known as Eastern Purple Coneflower, is a deciduous perennial herb native to open woodlands and prairies in the Central and Eastern United States. It typically grows up to 120 cm (47 in) tall and 25 cm (10 in) wide. The plant features large, showy daisy-like flowers with pink to purple rays and prominent, spiky, cone-shaped centers that bloom from early summer to late autumn. These flowers are highly attractive to pollinators such as butterflies and bees. The leaves are coarse and ovate to broad-lanceolate.

Eastern Purple Coneflower is valued for its striking flowers and its ability to attract wildlife, making it a popular choice for native plant gardens, pollinator gardens, and borders. It is also used in cut flower arrangements. Echinacea purpurea is relatively easy to maintain, tolerates poor soil, and is drought-resistant once established, which contributes to its appeal for gardeners. It prefers full sun to light shade and adapts to a range of soil conditions, from dry to moist, with varying drainage capabilities. While it is generally pest and disease-resistant, it can occasionally suffer from aster yellows disease. Cultivars offer variations in flower color and plant size.CC BY-SA 4.0

Plant Description

  • Plant Type: Herb
  • Height: 2-4 feet
  • Width: 1.5-2 feet
  • Growth Rate: Moderate
  • Flower Color: Pink, Purple
  • Flowering Season: Summer, Fall
  • Leaf Retention: Deciduous

Growth Requirements

  • Sun: Full Sun, Part Shade
  • Water: Medium
  • Drainage: Fast, Medium, Slow

Common Uses

Bee Garden, Bird Garden, Border Plant, Butterfly Garden, Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Edible*Disclaimer: Easyscape's listed plant edibility is for informational use. Always verify the safety and proper identification of any plant before consumption., Erosion Control, Hummingbird Garden, Low Maintenance, Potted Plant, Rabbit Resistant, Rock Garden, Showy Flowers, Street Planting

Natural Habitat

Open woodlands and prairies

Other Names

Common Names: Eastern Purple-Coneflower, Purple-Coneflower, Broad-Leaved Purple Coneflower, Roter Scheinsonnenhut, Echinacée Pourpre, Échinacée Pourpre, Röd Rudbeckia, Röd Solhatt, 자주천인국, Echinacija Purpurovaja, Purple Coneflower

Scientific Names: , Echinacea purpurea, Brauneria purpurea, Rudbeckia purpurea, Echinacea serotina, Echinacea purpurea var. purpurea, Rudbeckia aspera, Echinacea intermedia, Echinacea purpurea var. arkansana, Echinacea purpurea f. ligettii

GBIF Accepted Name: Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench