About Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench
Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench is an herbaceous perennial that reaches up to 120 centimeters (47 inches) tall and 25 centimeters (10 inches) wide at maturity. Depending on climate conditions, it blooms from summer through autumn. In wild populations, its cone-shaped flowering heads are usually, but not always, purple. Each individual floret within the flower head is hermaphroditic, containing both male and female reproductive organs, and the species is pollinated by butterflies and bees. The plant bears alternate leaves attached by petioles 0 to 17 cm (0 to 7 in) long; leaves are oval to lanceolate, 5–30 cm (2–12 in) long by 5–12 cm (2–5 in) wide, with toothed margins. Its inflorescence is a capitulum 7 to 15 cm (3 to 6 in) in diameter, featuring a prominent domed central protuberance made up of many small yellow florets. This central cluster is surrounded by a ring of pink or purple ligulate florets. The central tubular florets are hermaphroditic, while the outer ligulate florets are sterile. The plant’s involucral bracts are linear to lanceolate. It prefers well-drained soils and full sun. Its fruit is an achene, which is eaten by birds. Echinacea purpurea is native to parts of eastern North America, and occurs wild to some degree across much of the eastern, southeastern, and midwestern United States, as well as the Canadian province of Ontario. It is most abundant in the Ozarks, Mississippi Valley, and Ohio Valley. Its natural habitats include dry open woods, prairies, and barrens. A wide range of pollinators are attracted to Echinacea purpurea. Bee species attracted to its flowers include bumblebees, sweat bees, honey bees, the sunflower leafcutter bee, and the mining bee Andrena helianthiformis. Butterfly visitors include monarchs, swallowtail butterflies, and sulphur butterflies. Birds, especially finches, eat the seeds and disperse them via their droppings. Slugs and rabbits will feed on young foliage, or new growth that has just emerged in spring. Gophers can also damage and eat the plant’s roots. In temperate regions, Echinacea purpurea is cultivated as an ornamental plant. It works well for plantings along curbs, walkways, or in garden beds, and its flowers can be used in fresh cut bouquets. Numerous cultivars have been developed for improved flower quality and plant shape. It can grow in full sun or light shade, and thrives in either dry or moist soil. Once established, it can tolerate drought. The cultivars 'Ruby Giant' and 'Elbrook' have been awarded the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. Native Americans have used this plant as a traditional medicine to treat a wide range of ailments.
