Purple coneflower
Echinacea purpurea
Bees in summer, goldfinches in fall.
Hardiness: zones 3 to 9
Light: full sun
Size: about 3 ft tall, 2 ft wide
From: E. North America
Drought-hardy once established
Here: Hardy in the Lake Erie shore climate (zone 6b to 7a), so it can live outdoors in the ground.
Good for: pollinators, wildlife, traditional use.
Native to: Southeast, Midwest & Great Lakes, Great Plains & Texas. Hardy in zones 3 to 9.
The story
Native to the prairies and open woods of the central and eastern US, including Ohio. The name Echinacea comes from the Greek echinos, 'hedgehog', after the spiny center cone.
Planting
Full sun. Soil: average to dry; handles clay (pH 6.0–7.5). Spacing: 18 in. Pollination: insect-pollinated, and a magnet for them.
Growing
Water: drought tolerant once established. Winter: Leave seed heads standing; goldfinches eat the seeds and bees nest in the stems. Spring: Cut old stems to 8–12 inches in late spring. Nesting bees use the stubble. Summer: Long bloom. Deadheading is optional. Fall: Let it self-sow a little.
Harvest and use
Harvest: Seed heads feed finches in fall. First crop: blooms year 2.
What to watch for
Aster yellows (rare); otherwise easy.
Safety
Medicinal uses here are shared as history, not advice. Kitchen amounts are fine for most people, but teas, tinctures and supplements can interact with medicines and aren't safe for everyone, especially in pregnancy, while breastfeeding, for children, or with liver or kidney problems. Ask a doctor or pharmacist before taking any plant as medicine.
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More helper plants for soil, wildlife and biomass
General guidance, not professional advice. Conditions vary by yard and year; for local specifics ask your county extension office. Never eat a wild plant you cannot identify with certainty. Traditional uses are shared as history, not medical advice. © 2026 Sean Priest · Irie Orchard. Terms & credits · Privacy · Home