Plant of the Month (February) : Purple Coneflower – Echinacea purpurea

Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea): plants in winter

February can be unpredictable in the Four Corners region. Weather can go from warm and sunny to cold and snowy very quickly. Making the garden look good this time of year can be a challenge. Plants that provide structural interest, even in winter, are a welcome solution. One such plant is the Purple Coneflower or Echinacea purpurea.  The scientific name is pronounced eck-kin-NAY-see-uh  pur-PURR-ee-uh.

Purple coneflower was probably never native to Colorado, although it does grow in neighboring Kansas.  This is really a wildflower of the eastern, southeastern and midwestern United States. It grows wild in prairies and open woodlands from Florida to the Canadian Province of Ontario.  It is commonly known as Purple Coneflower, Eastern Purple Coneflower, Hedgehog Coneflower and Echinacea.

Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea): in Sunflower family.

Purple coneflower is a member of the Sunflower family (Asteraceae).  It was originally named Rudbeckia purpurea by Linnaeus in 1753. [1]   It was reclassified as Echinacea purpurea in 1794, so this species has been known to the scientific world for some time.   And it has long been used in gardens, although its popularity has greatly increased since the 1990’s, when it became more readily available.

Why plant a non-native sunflower in Western Colorado, particularly in a garden with a preponderance of Colorado and Western plants?  For several reasons, including its aesthetic characteristics, hardiness, un-fussy growth requirements and ease of propagation.  All of this make Echinacea purpurea a popular garden plant on the Western Slope.

Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea): growth habit

Purple coneflower is an herbaceous perennial that common grows 2-4 ft. tall by 1-2 ft. wide (up to a meter tall by 25-30 cm). The foliage is somewhat coarse/bold in appearance (it is, after all, a sunflower). The stems are stiff and upright.  The largest leaves are low on the stems (5-12 inches long; 2-5 inches wide), simple and alternate, often with toothed margins (below).  The foliage is dark green, sometimes even tinged with purple.  The darker foliage contrasts nicely with many local shrubs that have silvery or blue-green foliage.

Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea): foliage

Echinacea purpurea is a long blooming species, with the exact bloom period depending on the local climate.  In milder areas, it may bloom as early as April.  In our part of Western Colorado, it’s mainly a summer through fall bloomer, with heaviest blooming in early summer and late summer/early fall.  The long bloom period is another reason for this species popularity.

Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea): flower (close-up)

The flowers of Purple coneflower exhibit the basic characteristics of the Asteraceae.  Flowers are clustered in ‘sunflower heads’, with lighter-colored ray flowers and darker disc flowers to the center (above).  The ray flowers are most typically purple or lilac, but may be white or pink.  The disc flowers cluster on a dome-shaped disc, which may be nearly flat to almost spherical.  The disc flowers, which are yellow or orange, produce the seeds (ray flowers are sterile). 

Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea): pale flowered variant.

We’ve noticed quite a bit of floral variability in the offspring of several plants we purchased last year.  Most have purple ray flowers (like the parents), but some have white rays and others lighter lilac-colored rays. Some have rays that are strongly recurved; others almost straight. Some have barely any ray flowers at all.   And all this from three purchased plants with ‘typical’ purple flowers! 

Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea): white-flowered variant

The natural variability of the species facilitates the development of cultivars with special characteristics. Cultivars such as 'White Swan' and ‘PowWow White’ have white flowers; 'Magnus' has bigger, flatter, purple rays, and ‘Ruby Star’ ('Rubenstern’) has darker, more recurved rays.  We suspect some hanky-panky produced the plants we purchased as the straight species!  And while we’re on the subject of cultivars, 'Kim's Knee High' and ‘Prairie Splendor’ are shorter plants (less than 2 ft.) with classic rose-purple flowers.  So, there’s something for every taste and requirement (unless you simply don’t like sunflowers).

Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea): easy to grow

Purple coneflower is easily grown in gardens from USDA Zones 3 to 8.  It’s not particular about soil texture or pH (except very acidic soils). While usually grown in full sun, it tolerates part-shade.  It’s a good bet for hot, dry sites, thriving on average or somewhat dry soils (our Water Zones 2 and 3 – see  https://www.slideshare.net/cvadheim/water-zone-gardening).  But it’s not picky about water needs; it can take regular water.

Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea): seedlings around mother plant

Echinacea purpurea is not a particularly long-lived perennial, at least not in Mother Nature’s Montrose Garden.  However, it does re-seed nicely – perhaps even too much so.  If you need to contain it, deadhead to prevent the seeds from maturing. On the other hand, the seeds serve as a good source of winter food for seed-eating birds.  And the bare seed heads add interest to the winter garden.

We don’t cut our Coneflowers back until spring.  Not only do perennials like Echinacea provide winter color. But retaining the old foliage helps the plants survive cold winter weather.   So, we wait until the spring warm-up to cut back the dead perennial foliage.  

Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea): seeds provide winter food for birds

The reasons to include Purple coneflower in a garden are many.  If you’re into habitat gardening, this species provides needed seasonal food. In addition to the seeds, the flowers provide nectar and pollen for a range of pollinators including native bees, hummingbirds and butterflies. The foliage also provides larval (caterpillar) food for the Silvery Checkerspot Butterfly and several species of moths.

Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea): medicinal plant

The medicinal gardener will recognize Echinacea purpurea as a medicinal plant. In fact, extracts of Echinacea root are widely sold, with claims that they boost immunity.  Some studies do suggest that secondary metabolites produced by Echinacea species stimulate production of certain immune cells. [2]  The species has a history of use treating many ailments, particularly those with an infectious component.  At any rate, the flowers can be used to make a soothing tea, which may have beneficial effects.  As always, herbal medicines should be used in moderation, and only after consulting your healthcare provider.

Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea): makes a good filler plant
 while shrubs are growiing

The most common reasons for planting Purple coneflower are its pretty flowers, long bloom season and modest care requirements.  The species is a good choice for filling in bare spots in the garden, particularly in a garden with new shrubs. It naturalizes nicely if allowed to do so.  And the flowers make attractive, long-lasting cut flowers.

Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea): showy flowers make this
 a popular perennial.

Purple coneflower is showy when massed. It is a widely recognized and acceptable wildflower; a useful complement to shrubs and lawn, even in front yards.  Its hardy constitution makes it suitable for harsh conditions along curbs and walkways. It can be used in a naturalistic or cottage garden, prairie/meadow garden or traditional flower bed. 

Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea): dark foilage contrasts
 nicely with silvery native shrubs.

The relatively dark green foliage looks good with many silvery-foliage native shrubs and sub-shrubs.  The purple flowers make a lovely contrast, particularly with yellow-flowered sunflowers and white flowered species. Try pairing it with such natural associates as Coreopsis major, Rudbeckia hirta, Monarda fistulosa, Liatris spicata, Schizachyrium scoparium and Andropogon species for a prairie garden.

In summary, while not a Colorado native plant, Purple coneflower has many useful attributes. It’s readily available – both as plants and seeds. There are cultivars with specific properties.  And it looks nice with relatively little maintenance.  That’s probably why it is seen so commonly in local gardens.  Could you use a plant or two in your garden?

Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea): a good choice for Western Colorado gardens.

 

For a gardening information sheet see: Gardening sheet echinacea purpurea (slideshare.net)

For more pictures of this plant see:

For plant information sheets on other native plants see: http://nativeplantscsudh.blogspot.com/p/gallery-of-native-plants_17.html

_______

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Echinacea_purpurea
2. Manayi A, Vazirian M, Saeidnia S (2015). "Echinacea purpurea: Pharmacology, phytochemistry and analysis methods". Pharmacognosy Reviews. 9 (17): 63–72. doi:10.4103/0973-7847.156353. PMC 4441164. PMID 26009695.

 

 

 

We welcome your comments (below).  You can also send your questions to: monaturesmontrosegarden@gmail.com