Coneflower, Purple
(Echinacea purpurea)

Purple Coneflower can be found in open woods, thickets and prairies in the central and eastern U.S. It produces large, rose-purple flowers with prickly, dome-shaped centers, giving it the alternate common name of Hedgehog Coneflower. Plants are easy to grow and long-blooming. Will tolerate a combination of heat and humidity. Recommended for the home garden, meadow gardening, pollinator and wildlife mixes. It makes a good cut flower. Flowers attract butterflies, honey bees and bumblebees, and it is the host plant for the Ottoe Skipper.  The seeds of Purple Coneflower are eaten by goldfinches and other birds.