Coneflower (Echinacea)
[eh-kih-NAY-shah]

Deciduous Perennial
 

About Coneflowers

Echinacea, commonly called "Coneflower," is a tough, long-blooming, pollinator-attracting perennial that is native to the US. Echinacea purpurea (Eastern Purple Coneflower) and Echinacea Pallida (Eastern Pale Purple Coneflower) are both native to Illinois and extremely well-suited to Chicago growing conditions.

Echinacea will bloom for the longest period of time if old flowers are deadheaded, so we recommend removing spent blooms from July through September, then leaving the rest to stand through the winter months. Named for their prickly center cones (the Latin word "echinus" means sea urchin), these un-cuddly beauties actually look quite nice "bald" once the flowers have gone by. Bonus points for feeding the birds through the cold season!

Echinacea 'Pixie Meadowbrite' sends out bubblegum-pink petals around deep orange to dark red cones. This variety of Echinacea is quite short (less than two feet tall) and looks great along borders or in planters.

Echinacea hybrida 'Cheyenne Spirit' is a delightful mystery: this two-foot-tall variety will bloom in shades of red, orange, yellow, pink, purple, and white… all on a single plant! What combination will yours create?

Echinacea 'Sombrero Salsa Red' is as tough as it is… well… red. This variety was bred to be cold-hardy and long-blooming, so plant in full sun, sit back, and watch it put on a show from late spring through fall.

Echinacea purpurea 'Pow Wow Wildberry' is a compact (1.5 foot tall), extremely hardy variety of Echinacea with vibrant purple flowers. Sure, it’s named like a fruity flavor of gum, but this plant can withstand drought, heat, poor soil, and high humidity, no problem.

Echinacea purpurea 'Magnus' grows up to three feet tall and sports six-inch-wide, rose-pink flowers with a unique flat shape (most echinacea petals curl downwards, away from the center cone).

Pros

  • Love hot, sunny, dry conditions
  • Deer resistant
  • Heat/drought tolerant
  • Plant looks attractive even after flowers have gone by without deadheading
  • Seeds can feed birds over winter months
  • Tolerant of poor soil (but bloom best in nutrient-rich soil)
  • Make great cut flowers

Cons

  • Won’t thrive in shade
  • Don’t like wet feet
  • Need deadheading to get more blooms
 

Plant Data

Mature Size 24 - 48 inches tall. 12 - 18 inches wide.
Moisture Tolerance Dry - Medium: Dry to Moist. Drought tolerant once established.
Zones 3a - 8b (Usually hardy to -40° F)
Tags Attracts Bees, Attracts Birds, Attracts Butterflies, Attracts Hummingbirds, Attracts Pollinators, Container, Deciduous, Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Dry, Extended Bloom Time, Formal Garden, Fragrant Flowers, Full Sun, Good for Borders, Good for Butterfly Garden, Good for Cottage Garden, Good for Cut Flowers, Good for Mass Planting, Good for Rain Garden, Illinois Native, Low Maintenance, Medium, Most Popular, Native to North America, Normal Soil, Perennial, Popular For Fall, Prairie Garden, Rabbit Resistant, Showy Flowers, Thrillers, Tolerant of Moist Soil, Tolerant of Poor Soil, Well-Drained Soil, Winter Interest
 

Rankings
 

Related Articles
 

More Info from Experts

Commonly Planted with...

Rudbeckia, Bee Balm, American Basket flower, Gentian, Cardinal Flower, Phlox, Goat's Beard, Coreopsis, Beard Tongue.

Photos of This with...

Cheyenne Spirit Coneflower, Gentle Shepherd Daylily, Blue Star Kalimeris, Indian Dunes Zonal Geranium
 

Coneflower Available Now

Hot Papaya Cone-Fections Coneflower
(Echinacea 'Hot Papaya')
From $8.25

Purple Coneflower
(Echinacea purpurea)
From $11.58

Pixie Meadowbrite Coneflower
(Echinacea 'CBG Cone 2' PIXIE MEADOWBRITE)
From $12.90

Cheyenne Spirit Coneflower
(Echinacea 'Cheyenne Spirit')
From $10.27

Pale Purple Coneflower
(Echinacea pallida)
From $11.58
Hula Dancer Pale Purple Coneflower
(Echinacea pallida 'Hula Dancer')
From $15.54

Yellow Coneflower
(Echinacea paradoxa)
From $10.58

Big Sky Sombrero Salsa Red Coneflower
(Echinacea purpurea 'Balsomsed' SOMBRERO SALSA RED)
From $11.05

Butterfly Kisses Purple Coneflower
(Echinacea purpurea 'Butterfly Kisses')
From $17.47

Fatal Attraction Purple Coneflower
(Echinacea purpurea 'Fatal Attraction')
From $17.47

Kim's Knee High Purple Coneflower
(Echinacea purpurea 'Kim's Knee High')
From $11.05

Magnus Purple Coneflower
(Echinacea purpurea 'Magnus')
From $8.48

Magnus Superior Purple Coneflower
(Echinacea purpurea 'Magnus Superior')
From $60.30

Powwow Wild Berry Coneflower
(Echinacea purpurea 'Pas702917' POWWOW WILD BERRY)
From $10.27
Pica Bella Purple Coneflower
(Echinacea purpurea 'Pica Bella')
From $14.84

Pink Double Delight Coneflower
(Echinacea purpurea 'Pink Double Delight')
From $94.41

PowWow White Coneflower
(Echinacea purpurea 'PowWow White')
From $10.27

Prairie Splendor Purple Coneflower
(Echinacea purpurea 'Prairie Splendor')
From $12.44

Raspberry Truffle Purple Coneflower
(Echinacea purpurea 'Raspberry Truffle')
From $12.13

Ruby Star Purple Coneflower
(Echinacea purpurea 'Rubinstern' RUBY STAR)
From $8.87

Virgin Purple Coneflower
(Echinacea purpurea 'Virgin')
From $17.47

White Swan Coneflower
(Echinacea purpurea 'White Swan')
From $10.58

Butterfly Julia Coneflower
(Echinacea purpurea 'Butterfly Julia')
From $107.01

Hot Coral Sombrero Purple Coneflower
(Echinacea purpurea 'Balsomcor Hot Coral')
From $14.84

Sombrero Lemon Yellow Coneflower
(Echinacea x 'Balsomemy' SOMBRERO LEMON YELLOW)
From $94.41

Sombrero Adobe Orange Coneflower
(Echinacea 'Sombrero Adobe Orange')
From $11.05

Cantaloupe Coneflower
(Echinacea 'SUPREME Cantaloupe')
From $13.68

Alba White Coneflower
(Echinacea purpurea 'Alba')
From $8.48

Sombrero Baja Burgundy Coneflower
(Echinacea 'Sombrero Baja Burgundy')
From $17.47

Sombrero Hot Coral Purple Coneflower
(Echinacea purpurea 'Sombrero Hot Coral')
From $11.05

Butterfly Rainbow Marcella Coneflower
(Echinacea 'Rainbow Marcella')
From $94.41

Sombrero Flamenco Orange Coneflower
(Echinacea 'Balsomenco' FLAMENCO ORANGE)
From $14.84

Sombrero Sangrita Coneflower
(Echinacea 'Balsomanita' SOMBRERO SANGRITA)
From $14.84

Sombrero Granada Gold Coneflower
(Echinacea 'Balsomold' GRANADA GOLD)
From $14.84

Sombrero Tres Amigos Coneflower
(Echinacea 'Balsomtresgor' SOMBRERO TRES AMIGOS)
From $17.47

Sombrero Lemon Yellow Improved Coneflower
(Echinacea 'Balsomemyim' SOMBRERO LEMON YELLOW IMPROVED)
From $11.05

Kismet White Coneflower
(Echinacea 'Kismet White')
From $17.47

Kismet Yellow Coneflower
(Echinacea 'TNECHKY' KISMET YELLOW)
From $17.47

Mellow Yellow Coneflower
(Echinacea purpurea 'Mellow Yellow')
From $10.19

Conefections Lemon Drop Coneflower
(Echinacea 'Conefections Lemon Drop')
From $94.41

Kismet Red Coneflower
(Echinacea 'Kismet Red')
From $17.47

Granada Gold Sombrero
(Echinacea x 'Balsomold' GRANADA GOLD SOMBRERO)
From $17.47

Showoff Purple Coneflower
(Echinacea purpurea 'Showoff')
From $6.98

Sunseekers Salmon Coneflower
(Echinacea 'Sunseekers Salmon')
From $94.41

White Showoff Coneflower
(Echinacea purpurea 'White Showoff')
From $10.19
SunSeekers Rainbow Coneflower
(Echinacea 'SunSeekers Rainbow')
From $96.30
Sunseekers Tequila Sunrise Coneflower
(Echinacea 'Sunseekers Tequila Sunrise')
From $96.30
Summersong Firefinch Coneflower
(Echinacea 'Summersong Firefinch')
From $20.30
The Fuchsia is Bright Coneflower
(Echinacea x 'Color Coded The Fuchsia is Bright')
From $14.45
One in a Melon Coneflower
(Echinacea x 'Color Coded One In a Melon')
From $12.90
Double Scoop Strawberry Coneflower
(Echinacea 'Balscawbux' DOUBLE SCOOP STRAWBERRY)
From $17.47

Pink Shimmer Coneflower
(Echinacea 'PINK SHIMMER')
From $17.47

(Echinacea x 'Double Watermelon')
From $12.13
SunSeekers Mineola Coneflower
(Echinacea 'SunSeekers Mineola')
From $96.30

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Limited Availability

We try very hard to source exactly what you’d like, but sometimes growers run out of plants! While this variety is a great deal at the price shown, we know that it has limited availability. If you want the plant even if it might be more expensive, or in a different size or quantity -- after you place your order, just send us a quick note at help@northshoreplantclub.com. Then, we’ll try to get you some version of this from one of our growers. And if we can’t get it from anywhere, of course, we’ll send a refund!


Field-Grown vs. Greenhouse-Grown Plants

Plants which are well-adapted to our local climate are most often field-grown (outside). Field-grown plants are generally cheaper and have the advantage of already somewhat acclimated to our cold winters, but that means they’re not artificially far along in the spring and tend to bloom at the normal time in our area.

Spring annuals and tender perennials are typically grown in Greenhouses so they can be ready and luxurious exactly when customers want them. Some perennials are also “forced” into early bloom in greenhouses. In May, there can be a very big difference between field-grown and greenhouse-grown plants of the same type. The latter typically look good right away (so they’re a great choice where that’s important), but we typically pay a premium for it.


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