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Echinacea purpurea

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Echinacea purpurea

Common Name: Eastern Purple Coneflower

Eastern Purple Coneflower is a hardy, long-blooming perennial that grows 2 to 4 feet tall, with striking purple-pink petals surrounding a raised, orange-brown central cone. It thrives in prairies, open woodlands, and roadsides, preferring well-drained loamy or sandy soils. This species is a favorite among pollinators, attracting bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, while its seed heads provide food for birds in winter. Traditionally used by Indigenous peoples for medicinal purposes, it is now widely cultivated in gardens for its ornamental appeal. Ideal for pollinator gardens, prairie restorations, and naturalized plantings, it adds color and resilience to landscapes. Echinacea purpurea is native to the Eastern United States and is similar to Echinacea angustifolia, our Minnesota native purple coneflower, but can be distinguished by angustifolia having mostly basal leaves that are narrow and long. Purpurea has been cultivated into many color variants for the nursery trade making it more popular, but it is not native to Minnesota and has no known natural occurrences in Minnesota.

Characteristics

Type	Forb
Sun	Full Sun, Partial Sun
Soil	Clay, Loam, Sand/Gravel, Calcareous
Moisture	Dry, Mesic, Wet
Average Max Height (inches)	42
Suggested Plant Spacing (inches)	15
Bloom month(s)	July, August, September, October
Bloom Color or Type	Pink, Violet
Dominance	High

Range Maps

Sowing Information

For most homeowners, the recommended method is to hand-broadcast seed at a minimum rate of 16–64 PLS (Pure Live Seed) ounces per acre. To ensure even coverage, broadcast the seed in perpendicular passes across the site. Grass seed should be broadcast first and lightly raked into the soil. Afterward, apply a light mulch layer using clean, seed-free straw or, preferably, our native Little Bluestem straw, available at our retail garden centers. Once mulching is complete, broadcast native wildflower seed over the area without raking it in. A good rainfall or thorough watering will provide sufficient soil contact for successful germination.

Planting Information

Dig a hole in your planting site slightly larger than the plant’s root system. When placing the plant into the hole, ensure that the soil line remains consistent with its original level in the pot. Fill in around the roots with the excavated soil, gently firming it to eliminate air pockets. Water the plant thoroughly the same day to promote successful establishment.

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