Family: Asteraceae
Common name: Eastern purple coneflower, Purple coneflower, Hedgehog coneflower, Broad-leaved purple coneflower, Echinacea
Purple coneflower is a well-known perennial herbaceous plant that produces light purple flowers in abundance during summer and fall. They are native to North America but are now found all over America and in some states in Canada.
Plant characteristics
The plant can grow to a height of 100-150 cm with a sturdy, upright stem that holds the plant tall. These plants form clumps with coarse-textured leaves and a thick bunch of roots that can grow and produce more plants in no time.
The leaves of the Purple coneflower are lance-shaped, rough-textured, and alternate growing smaller towards the tip of the plant. They have a dark green color and can grow up to 15 cm in length.
The flowers of the Purple coneflower are showy, daisy-like, with prominent, spiky, reddish-brown central cones surrounded by vibrant, pinkish-purple, lavender, or cream-colored petals.
Each flower is 8 to 10 cm in diameter with a bulged center that’s pokey, like a hedgehog. This gives the plant its name, from the Greek word echinos which means ‘hedgehog’. The flowers are a favorite among pollinators, attracting bees, butterflies, and other insects.
After the flowers fade, Purple coneflower plant produces spiky, rounded seed heads. These seed heads contain seeds that are often used for propagation or left in the garden, attracting birds during the fall and winter seasons. There are many cultivars with small variations in flower colors and sizes, some of them very popular with gardeners.
Gardening tips
The plants need a good 6 hours of sunlight to grow and bloom well. They also need regular watering and fertilization during the growing season. Mature plants can tolerate some amount of drought and need very little attention, but they can cover your garden with hundreds of beautiful flowers.
Pruning spent flowerheads can keep the plant beautiful and bushy. Purple coneflower plants can be grown as hedge plants since the thick, upright stems give a good definition to your garden.
Medicinal Uses
These plants have many medicinal properties since they are high on antioxidants. They can strengthen the immune system and also help in treatment of skin diseases, cold flu, diabetes, cough, and fever. The leaves of this plants is used to make herbal tea that can help the body fight off infections and reduce the severity of colds and flu.
Propagation
Propagation is through seeds, or root division. Seeds can be collected from the dried up flowerheads and planted during spring. Mature clumps of Purple coneflower can be divided into individual plants and replanted.
Photographed at: Toronto, Canada
