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Purple Coneflower Wikimedia Commons
Asteraceae

Purple Coneflower

Echinacea purpurea

Strength and healing.

Family
Asteraceae
Genus
Echinacea
Native to
Eastern North America
Bloom season
Summer, Fall
Type
perennial
Height
2-5 ft
Sunlight
full sun
Soil
well-drained, average
Water
low to moderate
Hardiness
3-9
Lifespan
perennial

Did you know

  • Native Americans used echinacea more than any other plant for medicine, treating everything from snakebites to toothaches.
  • The spiny central cone inspired its name from the Greek word 'echinos' meaning hedgehog or sea urchin.
  • Echinacea supplements generate over $300 million in annual sales in the United States alone.
  • Goldfinches love to eat the seeds from the dried cone heads, making them an excellent bird garden plant.
  • Despite its popularity as an immune-boosting supplement, scientific studies show mixed results on its effectiveness for colds.

Color meanings

0

strength

1

healing

2

health

Uses

  • herbal medicine
  • pollinator gardens
  • prairie restorations
  • cut flowers