Echinacea purpurea
Purple Coneflower
Purple Coneflower blooms, with their drooping, pinkish-purple rays and prominent centers, resemble badminton birdies. The showy, long-lasting,...
Description:
Purple Coneflower blooms, with their drooping, pinkish-purple rays and prominent centers, resemble badminton birdies. The showy, long-lasting, daisy-like flowers bloom non-stop throughout the summer and make excellent fresh-cut or dried flowers. While not native to all of New Jersey, this species is a native of similar ecoregions in North America. It tolerates a range of conditions, including drought and poor soil. Purple Coneflower is a wildlife-friendly plant, providing nectar for butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds and seeds for birds. It also has multiple medicinal properties, and is commonly used as an herbal remedy. Plant in masses in beds, borders, wildflower gardens, and meadows.
*Note – The original native range of this species conflicts depending on the information source. The USDA Plant Database currently lists Eastern Purple Coneflower as Native in Middlesex, Morris, and Bergen County. However, it typically grows in rocky prairie sites in
open, wooded regions, extending eastward through the Great Plains bioregion from northeast Texas, Missouri, and Michigan. For more information, visit the USDA Plants Database.
Plant Details:
Other Common Names: Eastern Purple Coneflower
Plant Type: Flower, Perennial
New Jersey Native: Yes
Bloom Times: Summer
Bloom Colors: Pink, Purple
Deer Resistance: Some
Attracts Pollinators and Wildlife: Bees and Other Pollinators, Butterflies, Hummingbirds, Birds
Salt Tolerance: Medium
Hardiness Zone: 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b
Physiographic Region: All Regions in NJ
Grows in Special Ecoregions: Barrier Island/Coastal
Soil Characteristics
Soil Type: Loam, Organic, Sandy, Clay
Soil Moisture: Dry, Moist
Soil pH: Slightly Acidic, Neutral, Slightly Alkaline
Light Needs of Plant
Optimal Light: Full Sun
Light Range: Full Sun, Partial Shade
Water Needs of Plant
Soil Moisture: Dry, Moist
Drought Tolerance: Medium
Size and Growth Rate
Height: 2 - 4 ft
Spread: 1.5 - 2 ft
Growth Rate: Medium