Three Acre Tablea garden, a kitchen, a good excuse to gather
Echinacea purpurea
Plate — illustration to come
Native · New Jersey

Purple Coneflower

Echinacea purpurea

Perennial flower

The classic pink-purple prairie daisy with a raised copper-brown center. Blooms for months in the height of summer and holds up in a vase or standing in the border into winter — the seed cones are as decorative as the flowers.

At a glance

The spec sheet.

Habitat
Open woods, prairies, meadows across eastern North America; widely naturalized in NJ
Bloom time
June – September
Sun
Full sun to part sun
Soil
Average, well-drained; tolerates clay and drought
Moisture
Medium; drought-tolerant once established
Height
2–4 feet
For the wildlife

What it attracts.

The species that visit, feed on, or depend on this plant — and how they use it.

  • Long-tongued native bees

    Nectar source

    Bumblebees, digger bees, leafcutter bees

  • Butterflies

    Nectar source

  • Goldfinches

    Fruit / seed source

    Leave seed heads standing through winter for finches

Notes on growing

Don't cut it back after bloom — leave the seed heads through fall and winter for goldfinches, and for the sculptural line they add to a dormant garden. Divide every 3–4 years to keep clumps vigorous.

Sources

Xerces Society · Gardenia NJ · Jersey-Friendly Yards

Blooms with

Other natives in bloom now.