Eastern Purple Coneflower
Echinacea purpurea
36.1622, -86.7743
Field Notes
Description:
From Wildflower.org: A popular perennial with smooth, 2-5 ft. stems and long-lasting, lavender flowers. Rough, scattered leaves that become small toward the top of the stem. Flowers occur singly atop the stems and have domed, purplish-brown, spiny centers and drooping, lavender rays. An attractive perennial with purple (rarely white), drooping rays surrounding a spiny, brownish central disk.
Habitat:
Native Habitat: Extreme northeast Texas. Well-drained limestone, sand, clay, loam. Rocky, open woods; thickets; prairies
Notes:
The flowers of Echinacea species are used to make an extremely popular herbal tea, purported to help strengthen the immune system; an extract is also available in tablet or liquid form in pharmacies and health food stores. Often cultivated, Purple Coneflower is a showy, easily grown garden plant.
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