Purple Coneflower

Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)

Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) is a resilient North American prairie perennial celebrated for classic rosy purple petals surrounding a bold orange cone. Blooming from early summer into fall, this dependable favorite delivers months of color, strong upright stems, and high pollinator value for sunny borders, meadows, and naturalistic plantings.

Distinctive Features

Large, daisy-like blooms hold rich color in heat and full sun, while sturdy, weather resistant stems stay upright in wind and rain. Flowers produce abundant nectar for bees and butterflies; if left standing, the seed-filled cones feed finches and add winter texture. Clean, deep green foliage forms a tidy clump that expands steadily each year.

Growing Conditions

• Sun Exposure: Full sun for best flowering; light afternoon shade is acceptable in hot climates.
• Soil: Well drained garden soil; adapts to loam, sandy, or lightly rocky sites and tolerates light clay if drainage is good.
• Water: Moderate; water to establish, then allow the top inch of soil to dry between waterings.
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 9.
• Mature Size: Typically 24 to 36 inches tall and 18 to 24 inches wide.

Ideal Uses

• Focal Point: Bold cones and saturated petals read clearly across mixed borders.
• Pollinator Gardens: Reliable nectar source that supports bees, butterflies, and other beneficials.
• Meadow and Prairie Designs: Blends naturally with grasses, rudbeckias, salvia, and liatris.
• Cut Flowers: Long-lasting stems and classic form for fresh bouquets.
• Mass Plantings: Plant in drifts for a ribbon of summer color and winter seed heads.

Low Maintenance Care

• Watering: Deep, infrequent watering once established; avoid chronically wet soils.
• Deadheading: Remove spent blooms to extend flowering; leave late-season cones for birds.
• Fertilizing: Minimal needs; a light spring compost topdress is sufficient.
• Staking: Not required; naturally sturdy stems.
• Cleanup: Cut back in late fall or early spring to refresh growth.

Why Choose Purple Coneflower?

• Classic Native Beauty: Iconic prairie bloom with strong garden presence.
• Extended Bloom: Flowers for months with minimal care.
• Tough and Adaptable: Heat and drought tolerant once established.
• Wildlife Friendly: Excellent nectar source and winter seed for birds.
• Design Versatility: Works in cottage, meadow, and contemporary landscapes.

Echinacea purpurea combines timeless color, ecological value, and durable performance, delivering a long-lasting, low maintenance highlight for sunny, well drained sites.