Echinacea purpurea / Purple Coneflower (Aster Family)

Most pollinator gardens have an Echinacea or 5. These are classic garden plants for a good reason–they attract pollinators of all kinds, and when the flowers are done at long last, the goldfinches move in. They can grow in most garden conditions other than standing water–more shade just means less flowers. Shade grown plants get much taller and look quite nice swaying among grasses and goldenrods. Large, prickly seed heads look nice through the winter and will let you know where your plant is, as the foliage dies all the way back each year. Echinacea is an important medicinal plant and has many recognized uses. 

Blooms: Pink, 6-8 weeks, May-July
Leaves: Dark green, roughly textured,  6” long, coarsely toothed, ovate, simple
Height: 3-4’ 
Space: 2’
Soil: Average-Dry 
Exposure: Full, Part Sun, Part Shade
Fauna: Variety of pollinators, host plant for butterflies, seeds for birds
Seeds: Dark, prickly seed head, filled tightly with numerous nutlets, most of which are not viable
Deer Resistance: Moderate
Zone: 3-9
Native Status: NC Native, rare in the Piedmont and Mountains
Provenance: Unknown, seed grown