Purple Coneflower

Description

Botanical Name:   Echinacea purpurea

Common Name:  Purple Coneflower, Eastern Purple Coneflower

Description:  Purple coneflower is an endangered Florida native wildflower, found naturally only in Gadsden County.

This beautiful perennial repeat blooms during the warm season. Grows great in sun to part sun locations where it gets 2-4′ tall and wide. I’ve found that it does like to have some shade from our intense late afternoon summer sun. Can be grown in your meadow/prairie areas and in your regular garden beds. Is somewhat drought tolerant after becoming established, but looks best when it gets regular water. Does not like continually wet feet. Makes a pretty cut flower. Can be grown in the ground or in containers. Attracts butterflies, hummers, native bees, and other pollinators for its nectar, and also attracts birds for its seed heads. Leave seed heads on the plant for it to reseed itself. This is considered a short-lived perennial.

The striking bloom of the Purple Coneflower consists of a compact center of disk florets that range in color from green to yellow-orange to brown, surrounded by long lavender to purple ray florets. They form on erect stems that emerge from a basal rosette of sagittate to lanceolate leaves. The leaves are dark green with toothed margins and a rough surface.

Likes to grow in well-drained sand, clay, or loamy soil.

These are Florida ecotype plants grown in the North Central Florida area.

Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Some tolerance to salty wind but not direct salt spray.

This plant in 1-gallon containers is 8-15″ tall.

Plant Lore: Has medicinal value.

Florida Hardiness Zones 8 – 10