Echinacea purpurea, commonly known as Purple Coneflower, is a striking wildflower often standing nearly head high. Its flowers are large and daisy-like with purplish pink rays sweeping back from the spiny reddish cone-shaped central disk. The deep green leaves are rough and tapering. Blooming season for this coneflower is from June to October. It is a native of the North American prairies but its range has spread eastward where it grows wild along open woodlands and roadsides.
This long-lived flower is lovely in the garden and also is excellent for cutting. But that’s not all. Butterflies and other insects are attracted to its nectar and birds such as goldfinch and chickadees relish the seed heads.
And that’s not all! Native Americans used Echinacea for more medicinal purposes than any other plant group. Now it is used around the world, especially in Europe, though it is not native there. In Germany today, more than 200 pharmaceutical preparations are made from Echinacea. This herb has a reputation for enhancing the immune system. Studies have shown that it stimulates the production of white blood cells, which fight infection.
It’s amazing that in one plant there can be such beauty and usefulness too. Echinacea purpurea is definitely not just another pretty face!
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