photo of Echinacea purpurea

Echinacea purpurea

Purple Coneflower

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Purple Coneflower blooms, with their drooping, pinkish-purple rays and prominent centers, resemble badminton birdies. The showy, long-lasting,...

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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.

Native Range of the Eastern Purple Coneflower

Native Range of the Eastern Purple Coneflower

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