Purple Coneflower
Echinacea purpurea

Purple coneflower is a native perennial plant with large, lavender flowers that bloom in early summer.

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Purple coneflower blooming in a garden bed.
Purple coneflower gets its name from its spiky, cone-shaped center. (Photo by Will Parson/Chesapeake Bay Program)

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Appearance

Purple coneflower has large, lavender flowers with a spiny, dome-shaped, orange or brown center. Its stems have small, rough hairs. Flowers bloom in early summer, usually in June to July. Purple coneflower grows 1 to 3 feet tall.

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.

Did you know?

  • The purple coneflower's scientific name comes from the Greek word echinos which means hedgehog. This refers to the flower’s spiky, cone-shaped center.
  • It 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 which are plants bred for specific traits that come in various colors, including white, pink, red and orange.

Sources and additional information

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