Echinacea purpurea (purple coneflower)

Famous for its beauty and medicinal qualities, this coneflower has a long blooming season in summer. Its genus name,"echinacea," comes from the Greek word echinos meaning hedgehog or sea-urchin. This refers to the spiny center cone, which lasts long after the rest of the plant has died back and provides winter interest in the garden landscape. Grows in full to part sun, average to moist soil conditions. Can reach 4 feet high; blooms in July-August. There are many cultivars sold commercially. We sell the straight species, which is taller, tougher and longer-lived than most of the cultivars.