Asteraceae
purple coneflower
Echinacea purpurea
Synonyms
Brauneria purpurea
Helichroa purpurea
Lepachys purpurea
Rudbeckia purpurea
Other Common Names
coneflower, purple rudbeckia
Plant Type
Herbaceous Wildflower
Life Cycle
Perennial
Typical Size
3-4 ft. tall
1-2 ft. wide
Tolerant of
Deer
Inolerant of
Poorly Drained Soil
Propagation
By seed, By division
Plant Propagation Notes
Seeds require cold stratification for germination. Plants can be divided in spring.
Plant Planting Notes
Plant 24″ apart. Divide every four years or so to prevent crowding.
Plants/Diseases
Susceptible to aster yellows. Japanese beetles and leaf spot are occasional issues.
Wildlife Benefits
Nectar/pollen source for pollinating insects, Nectar source for hummingbirds, Fruit/seeds for birds
Leaves
Leaves alternate. Elliptical to lanceolate to ovate. Margins dentate to serrate, sometimes entire. Blades 3-6 inches long by 1-3 inches wide. Basal leaves are winged. Stem leaves are reduced in size and narrower with short petioles.
Flowers
Flowers are heads made up of 7-20 purple/lavender ray flowers and brown/copper disc flowers. Approximately 3-6 inches wide.
Fruit
Achene
Bark
The green stems are hairy with purple streaks.
Toxicity
No known toxicity.
Ethnobotanical Use
Native Americans used purple coneflower to treat many ailments and it is still widely in use today, but can interact with certain pharmaceutical drugs.

USDA Hardiness Zones
3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
Light Exposure
Full Sun
Soil Moisture
Medium, Moist
Soil Drainage
Well-drained
Soil pH
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Native in South Carolina?
Yes
Plant Native Habitat
Rocky, open woods, thickets, prairies, especially near waterways.
Global Conservation Status (NatureServe)
Apparently Secure (G4)
Federal Conservation Status (USFWS)
Not Listed
Distribution Notes
Rare in the SC Piedmont and absent from the Coastal Plain and Mountains
Subspecies
Echinacea purpurea var. purpurea