Purple Coneflower
Echinacea purpurea
Easy-to-grow echinacea. Vigorous plants with large, purple-petaled flowers. Fibrous roots are easy to harvest (other species have taproots). Attracts and is a food source for bees. Also known as purple coneflower and eastern purple coneflower. Normally grown for 3-4 years for harvest of sizeable roots. Perennial in Zones 3-10.
Harvest
300-365d
Days to harvest
Sun
eh-ki-NAY-see-ah pur-PUR-ee-ah
Zones
3–8
USDA hardiness
Height
3-4 feet
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for Purple Coneflower in USDA Zone 7
All Zone 7 native-wildflower →Zone Map
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Purple Coneflower · Zones 3–8
Growing Details
Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar
Complete Growing Guide
Light: eh-ki-NAY-see-ah pur-PUR-ee-ah. Soil: Clay, High Organic Matter, Loam (Silt), Sand, Shallow Rocky. Soil pH: Neutral (6.0-8.0). Drainage: Good Drainage, Moist, Occasionally Dry. Water: 'Alba', 'Amazing Dream', 'Avalanche', 'Bright Star', 'Bright Star', 'Cheyenne Spirit', Echinachea purpurea 'Hot Papaya' - PP#21,022, Fragrant Angel, 'Glowing Dream', 'Harvest Moon', 'Hot Papaya', ‘Kim’s Knee High’, 'Kismet Raspberry' PP 28,768 ('TNECHKR'), ‘Magnus’, 'Mellow Yellows', 'PAS702917' Powwow Wildberry, POW WOW, 'Purity', Ruby Star, 'Secret Affair', 'Sundown', 'Tiki Torch', 'White Swan'. Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.. Spread: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.. Spacing: 12 inches-3 feet. Growth rate: Rapid. Maintenance: 'Alba', 'Amazing Dream', 'Avalanche', 'Bright Star', 'Bright Star', 'Cheyenne Spirit', Echinachea purpurea 'Hot Papaya' - PP#21,022, Fragrant Angel, 'Glowing Dream', 'Harvest Moon', 'Hot Papaya', ‘Kim’s Knee High’, 'Kismet Raspberry' PP 28,768 ('TNECHKR'), ‘Magnus’, 'Mellow Yellows', 'PAS702917' Powwow Wildberry, POW WOW, 'Purity', Ruby Star, 'Secret Affair', 'Sundown', 'Tiki Torch', 'White Swan'. Propagation: Division, Root Cutting, Seed. Regions: Coastal, Mountains, Piedmont.
Harvesting
Seeds produced in the center cone are small, dark, 4 sided achenes that are attractive to birds.
Color: Black. Type: Achene. Length: < 1 inch. Width: < 1 inch.
Garden value: Good Dried
Harvest time: Fall, Summer
Bloom time: Summer
Edibility: Herbaceous parts may be steeped as a tea
History & Origin
Origin: Eastern and central USA
Advantages
- +Attracts: Some cultivars resistant to phytophthora. Deer
- +Wildlife value: Its flowers are attractive to bees, butterflies and other pollinators. This plant supports Silvery Checkerspot (Chlosyne nycteis) larvae which has two broods from May-September. The adults feed on nectar from red clover, common milkweed, and dogbane. This plant also supports Wavy-lined Emerald (Synchlora aerata) larvae. Songbirds, especially American goldfinches, eat the seeds. Dead stems are used by stem-nesting bees
- +Edible: Herbaceous parts may be steeped as a tea
- +Fast-growing
- +Low maintenance
Considerations
- -High maintenance
Companion Plants
Plant Together
Black-Eyed Susan
Similar growing conditions, blooms complement each other, attracts beneficial pollinators
Bee Balm
Attracts butterflies and bees, similar soil and sun requirements, natural pest deterrent
Yarrow
Improves soil health, attracts beneficial insects, drought tolerant companion
Wild Bergamot
Native prairie companion, attracts pollinators, similar water needs
Little Bluestem Grass
Natural prairie companion, provides structural support, complementary root systems
Catmint
Repels aphids and ants, drought tolerant, long blooming period
Sedum
Similar drought tolerance, attracts beneficial insects, provides late season blooms
Russian Sage
Deer resistant, drought tolerant, attracts pollinators while deterring pests
Keep Apart
Black Walnut
Produces juglone which is toxic to many plants including Purple Coneflower
Mint
Aggressive spreader that can overwhelm and outcompete Purple Coneflower
Pine Trees
Creates acidic soil conditions and dense shade that Purple Coneflower cannot tolerate
Pests & Disease Resistance
Resistance
Generally disease resistant, may develop powdery mildew in humid conditions
Common Pests
Japanese beetles, aphids, spider mites
Diseases
Powdery mildew, root rot in poorly drained soils