Genus: Echinacea

Common Names: coneflowers

A genus of 10 species of perennial flowering plants. Three species (E. angustifolia, E. pallida, and E. purpurea) have been historically used by first nations peoples in traditional medicine and are now widely cultivated for medicinal use around the globe. In cultivation, extensive hybridization has resulted in hundreds of cultivars marketed as ornamentals, and to some extent, for cut flowers.

Distribution: praries and open-wooded areas from Central to Eastern U.S. and Canada

Echinacea angustifolia

Common name(s): narrow purple cone flower

Description: perennial; a wildflower native to the Central and Eastern U.S. and Canada. One of three species that is commonly used in traditional medicine and to produce herbal teas. Showy, long-blooming purple-pink flowers in summer. We suggest leaving spent flower stalks standing through the winter to provide food and habitat for wildlife and then pruning in early spring. 

Height: to 4 ft. Spread: to 2 ft.

Position: full sun and well-draining soil

Uses: medicine, culinary- herbal teas, cut flowers, ornamental, to attract pollinators

Winter Hardiness: to 0 F and below

Distribution: C. and E. US, C. and E. Canada

Echinacea pallida

Common name(s): pale cone flower, pink coneflower

Description: perennial; a wildflower native to the South Central and Eastern U.S. and Canada. One of three species that is commonly used in traditional medicine and to produce herbal teas.  Showy, long-blooming pale pink flowers in summer. We suggest leaving spent flower stalks standing through the winter to provide food and habitat for wildlife and then pruning in early spring. 

Height: to 4 ft. Spread: to 2 ft.

Position: full sun and well-draining soil

Uses: medicine, culinary- herbal teas, cut flowers, ornamental, to attract pollinators

Winter Hardiness: to 0 F and below

Distribution: from Texas eastward and north to Eastern Canada

Echinacea purpurea

Common name(s): purple cone flower

Description: perennial; a wildflower native to the eastern U.S. and the only species of echinacea that can be reliably cloned from cuttings (though we grow ours from seed). One of three species that is commonly used in traditional medicine and to produce herbal teas. Showy, long-blooming purple-pink flowers in summer. We suggest leaving spent flower stalks standing through the winter to provide food and habitat for wildlife and then pruning in early spring. 

Height: to 4 ft. Spread: to 2 ft.

Position: full sun and well-draining soil

Uses: medicine, culinary- herbal teas, cut flowers, ornamental, to attract pollinators

Winter Hardiness: to 0 F and below

Distribution: from Texas eastward and north to Eastern Canada