Purple Coneflower
Echinacea purpurea
Purple coneflower has large, lavender flowers with a spiny, dome-shaped, orange or brown center. (Jordan Meeter/Flickr)
Purple coneflower is a native perennial plant with large, lavender flowers that bloom in early summer.
Appearance:
-
Large, lavender flowers with a spiny, dome-shaped, orange or brown center
-
Flowers bloom in early summer, usually in June-July
-
Flowers grow on stems with small, rough hairs
-
Grows 1-3 feet tall
Habitat:
-
Found in fields, rocky prairies and open, wooded areas
-
Grows in full or partial sun
Range:
-
Grows throughout the entire Chesapeake Bay watershed
Reproduction and Life Cycle:
-
After blooming, the flower’s dome-shaped center matures into a seed head
-
Wind, animals and other natural disturbances spread the seeds
-
New seedlings grow in spring
Other Facts:
-
Scientific name comes from the Greek word echinos meaning hedgehog. This refers to the flower’s spiky, cone-shaped center.
-
Attracts bees, butterflies and other beneficial insects
-
Echinacea, drawn from the coneflower plant, is used as a popular herbal tea. Studies have shown that echinacea may help boost the immune system and fend off infections.
-
There are many coneflower cultivars that come in various colors, including white, pink, red and orange
Sources and Additional Information:
