This is a cultivated selection of the widespread North American native Echinacea purpurea. The flowers are a bit of a deeper purple, with shorter and tighter gathered petals around the cone. A significant medicinal since the arrival of indigenous peoples on the continent, Echinacea’s genetic ancestors appear to have begun providing food for pollinators by no later than the end of the Ice Age.

An aster family plant, it carries familiar attributes of being a mid-to-late season bloomer. The flowers are long lasting and rich in color, and mature plants can easily carry a couple dozen blooms at any given time.

The central cone dries very well and makes an interesting addition to arrangements (be mindful that it is a little bit prickly). Or leave the heads on (which does not diminish further flower production) and feed the area finches. In short, this plant carries a wonderful amount of value for pollinators, seed-hungry birds, and humans alike!

Echinacea purpurea produces an abundance of nectar-rich flowers once it is established, and is a particularly desirable food source of bumble bees (not surprisingly, the rusty-patched bumble bee, which camouflages well into the cones) and hummingbirds.

Our admiral and monarch butterfly visitors both make a habit of re-visiting coneflowers as they grace us with their presence. As the blooming season progresses, it’s not unusual to see them in co-habitation on one of these herbs with goldfinches or sparrows.

Care: Though containing a fiberous foot instead of a taproot, Purple Coneflower is quite drought tolerant once established, and incredibly hardy. A light mulching in the first year is recommended while it establishes itself. Thereafter, you’ll find yourself with one of the lowest maintenance plants you can invite into your little world, and provide for the greater world of life around you.

As previously stated, dead-heading is purely of cosmetic preference (if one doesn’t like the look of the drying flower heads as others emerge), but it is not required for continued flower production throughout the season. P

rovide Echinacea purpurea with a well drained site – even one that dries out at times – with average to even poor soil, and enjoy the gifts of it’s labor. Split it just once every four years to keep your coneflowers at peak production.