Purple Coneflower

Coneflowers, also known as Echinacea, are vibrant and popular perennial plants native to the central and southeastern United States and widely grown on Long Island. They feature cone-shaped centers surrounded by colorful petals, attracting bees and butterflies. These plants bloom from early summer to fall, providing a splash of color in gardens.

Coneflowers are both visually appealing and important for native pollinators. They require little maintenance, thrive in well-drained soil, and can withstand Long Island's climate. By planting coneflowers, anyone can support local biodiversity and create a beautiful and beneficial habitat for pollinators on Long Island.

Leave the spent cones standing through winter. American goldfinches and other seed-eating birds work them over for months, and the dry stems shelter overwintering native bees.

Quick facts

• The genus name comes from the Greek echinos, meaning hedgehog, for the spiny central cone.
• Straight-species coneflowers feed far more pollinators than double-flowered or unusually colored cultivars, whose extra petals often replace the nectar-bearing disk florets.
• Unlike most coneflowers, which have taproots, purple coneflower has a fibrous root system; it handles dry spells well once established in a sunny, well-drained spot.

How to grow it

• Full sun, well-drained soil.
• Water the first season; rarely needed after.
• Skip fall cleanup; cut back in early spring.