The most common native coneflower that is cultivated is simply known as purple coneflower ( Echinacea purpurea). There are nine native species of coneflowers in the United States, and a few have been grown a long time by gardeners for their colorful purple blooms. The outer ring of “petals” are called ray florets, which are sterile but serve to attract pollinators and the eyes of gardeners. The center fertile flowers are called disc flowers, or florets, packed together into what looks like a cone, and are where the seeds are formed. The botanical name is Greek for “sea urchin” or “hedgehog” and refers to the spiny, prickly seed-cones remaining after the flower petals fade.Įchinacea plants are in the Asteraceae family, whose flowers are actually an inflorescence made up of hundreds of very tiny flowers. That name may be familiar to you as an herbal supplement found in pharmacy and health stores.
This is a group of native, hardy perennials that belong to the genus Echinacea. If you have a sunny or mostly sunny location with reasonably well-drained soil and want a perennial flowering plant that blooms most of the summer, that is drought-tolerant when established and that comes in a wide range of colors, consider purple coneflowers. One native option is purple coneflower ( Echinacea spp.), which can create a cheerful landscape by enhancing gardens with colorful options during the summer months. There are many perennials that supply a burst of color for a few weeks, but having some that will stay showy for several months helps to create an anchor for the garden. I often get asked for suggestions of plants with long-season color that will return and bloom every year. So, it is good to take note of plants that year by year never fail to provide superior color during these hot summer days.
Soaring temperatures (often above 100 degrees), unrelenting sun and weeks without rain take their toll on plants of all types, even trees and shrubs that are native to our region. We struggle to keep alive many types that are native to tamer climates. Summertime can be hard on many kinds of plants in our yards and gardens.
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