Purple Coneflower

Echinacea purpurea

Purple Coneflower image

Purple coneflower is a native plant reaching a height of 2 to 5 feet. It will bloom from June to August with a purplish-pink flower that attracts birds and butterflies. The best flower display is late June to late July, with sporadic continued bloom into autumn. Purple coneflower is a good fresh cut or dried flower. The dead flower stems will remain erect well into the winter and, if flower heads are not removed, are often visited by goldfinches who perch on or just below the blackened cones to feed on the seeds. Echinacea comes from the Greek word, "echinos," meaning hedgehog, in reference to the spiny center cone.