Purple Cone Flower (Echinacea purpurea)
Perennial
Seed Count: 80-100 seeds
Days to Germinate: 60 days of cold, moist stratification. See: Winter Sowing & Stratification
Depth to Sow: 1/4"
Seed Spacing: When seedlings are 2" high, thin to 1' apart
Color: Purple
Height: 2'- 4'
Bloom Time: July - September
Sun Exposure: Full to partial shade
Soil Moisture: Moderately wet to medium dry soil
Soil Type: Well drained sandy, rich soil
Attracts: Butterflies, hummingbirds, songbirds, bumble bees, honey bees, native bees and other beneficial insects
Natural Habitat: Prairies, rocky open woods, thickets
Drought Tolerance: High
Deer Resistance: Moderate
Larval Host: Ottoe Skipper butterfly
Native Zone: AL, AR, CT, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MD, MI, MO, MS, NC, NJ, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, VA, WI, WV
Pure Live Seed (PLS) Viability Value: 93.84%
Description:
The long-blooming flowers are a golden red to purple and may release a slight fragrance in strong sunlight. They are much-loved by bees. Blooms appear June-September and some Purple Coneflowers may re-bloom in the fall. Echinacea purpurea matures to 4' in height. The preference is full or partial sun, and moist to medium conditions. Growth is best in fertile loam, but the soil can contain some gravel or clay. Common names are Narrow-leaved Purple Coneflower, Sampson Root, Red Sunflower, and simply, Echinacea.
Seeds heads are great food for birds in winter if left on stalk. This is a good plant for rain gardens.
Info from www.prairiemoon.com