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 gets its name from its spiky, cone-shaped center. Above, coneflowers grow at Rocky Gap State Park in Allegany County, Md., on July 21, 2008. (Photo by Alicia Pimental/Chesapeake Bay Program) USAGE REQUEST INFORMATION BELOW To request permission, send an email briefly describing the proposed use to requests@chesapeakebay.net. Please do not attach jpegs. Instead, reference the corresponding Flickr URL of the image. Chesapeake Bay Program photographs are available for media and non-commercial use only. A photo credit mentioning the Chesapeake Bay Program is mandatory. The photograph may not be manipulated in any way or used in any way that suggests approval or endorsement of the Chesapeake Bay Program. Requestors should also respect the publicity rights of individuals photographed, and seek their consent if necessary.

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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

Tags:
Plants & Trees Herbaceous Forests & Uplands