Echinacea tennesseensis, commonly known as Tennessee Purple Coneflower, is a perennial herb that is semi-deciduous to deciduous. It is endemic to the cedar glades and open prairies of central Tennessee, particularly in the Nashville Basin. This plant typically grows to about 75 centimeters (2.46 feet) tall. The leaves are hairy, lanceolate, and primarily form a basal whorl, with only a few smaller leaves on the flowering stems. The flowers are showy, with a capitulum (flowerhead) up to 8 cm (3.2 inches) across, consisting of a ring of purple ray florets that stand erect around the central brown disc florets, blooming from late spring to early summer.

The Tennessee Purple Coneflower is valued for its unique flower structure, with the upright ray florets making it a distinctive addition to gardens. It is often used in native plant gardens, pollinator gardens, and as a border plant. This species is drought-tolerant once established and attracts butterflies and other pollinators. It requires full sun to part shade, medium water, and well-drained soils. While it is not known for serious pest or disease problems, it can be susceptible to aster yellows disease. It is important to note that this plant is considered rare in the wild and is a conservation success story, having been removed from the endangered species list due to successful recovery efforts.CC BY-SA 4.0