Echinacea purpurea, or Purple Coneflower, is a beloved native wildflower that enhances Illinois landscapes with its vibrant purple blooms and ecological benefits. Blooming from summer to early fall, it attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, making it an excellent choice for pollinator gardens. Its seed heads provide food for birds, especially goldfinches, in the winter. Thriving in a variety of soil conditions, Purple Coneflower is drought-tolerant, low-maintenance, and well-suited for prairies, meadows, and garden borders. With its long-lasting beauty and wildlife support, it is a must-have for any native planting.
Echinacea purpurea, or Purple Coneflower, is a beloved native wildflower that enhances Illinois landscapes with its vibrant purple blooms and ecological benefits. Blooming from summer to early fall, it attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, making it an excellent choice for pollinator gardens. Its seed heads provide food for birds, especially goldfinches, in the winter. Thriving in a variety of soil conditions, Purple Coneflower is drought-tolerant, low-maintenance, and well-suited for prairies, meadows, and garden borders. With its long-lasting beauty and wildlife support, it is a must-have for any native planting.
Bloom time: mid-summer (occasionally again in the fall)
Habitats: edges and openings in woodlands; limestone glades; moist to mesic black soil prairies; savannas; thickets
Lifespan: perennial
Moisture: moist to mesic
Plant type (height): forb (up to 3.5 feet)
Requirements: full sun to partial sun
Soil: fertile loam; can tolerate soil with some clay or gravel
