Purple Coneflower

• Height/Spread: 3–4' tall by 18–24"
• Habit/Form: Upright
• Hardiness Zone: 3–8
• Exposure: Full Sunlight
• Soil: Medium, well-drained

Ornamental value: Purple coneflower is a native plant to the Midwest and a timeless garden perennial. The botanical genus comes from the Greek word echinos, which means hedgehog or sea urchin. It adapts to a variety of climates including ones with drought, humidity, or poor soil.

This particular perennial looks nice in any type of garden. It blooms into beautiful purplish pink petals throughout the season—petals that gracefully droop over vibrant orange cones on a strong stem. The blooming repeats itself without deadheading.

Coneflower makes for an excellent flower when cut—either in summer or winter—on account of the dried blackened cones providing an interesting texture to dried floral arrangements. You can also leave the cones for the gold finches to enjoy the dried seeds.