Bring the Outdoors Home

Purple Coneflower | Plant Profile

Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) are tall flowering perennials native to the midwestern-central prairies of the United States. The foliage is course, sturdy, and covered in hairs. The daisy-like flowers display bright lavender leaves and magenta centers. The flower petals point downward, leaving the center fully exposed at the peak of the bloom.

Purple Coneflower grow well in dry to medium well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. These hardy perennials are tolerant of drought and other heat related adverse conditions.

Purple Coneflower are perfect for naturalized areas such as meadowns and sparse woodlands.; They are often planted in mass and permitted to self-seed.

Description

Purple Coneflower Characteristics

Purple Coneflower are rigid hardy perennials with lavender petals, dark green leaves, and magenta flower centers. The body of the plant is covered in hair-like follicles that add to the 'wild' look of these meadow plants. Purple Coneflower may self seed if not deadheaded. The spent blooms turn black in the winter and may occasionally be visited by birds, particularly goldfinches.

These hardy plants prefer dry to medium moisture soils, but can tolerate drought, heat, humidity and clay. They are best grown in full sun but should tolerate some shade. Soils do not need to be fertilized as Purple Coneflower are quite tolerant of poor soils. They may be susceptible to Japanese beetles, leaf spots, and aster yellows disease.

These long-lived blooms are perfect for naturalized areas such as meadows, woodland areas, and wildflower gardens. Their height makes them a good option to border fences and other structures. They are naturally attractive to bees and other pollinating insects but are not attractive to deer.

USDA Climate Zone
Zones  3 - 8
Height
2.00 - 5.00'
Spread
1.50 - 2.00'
Bloom Time
May - June
Water
Dry -  Medium
Sun
Full Sun to Part Shade
Maintenance
Low
Deer Resistant?
Yes