Purple coneflower Echinacea purpurea
Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) is a deciduous perennial flowering plant in the Asteraceae family. It grows 60 cm–1.2 m (24 in–3.9 ft) tall and 40–60 cm (16–24 in) wide, wants full sun and low water, and is hardy to about -30 °C (-22 °F). Space plants about 50 cm (20 in) apart.
Plan Purple coneflower in your garden →
Free. Draw your beds, then watch it grow through the year in 2D and 3D.
Purple coneflower at a glance
| Type | Perennial flowering plant, deciduous |
|---|---|
| Family | Asteraceae |
| Mature height | 60 cm–1.2 m (24 in–3.9 ft) |
| Mature spread | 40–60 cm (16–24 in) |
| Spacing | 50 cm (20 in) centre to centre |
| Sun | Full sun, at least 6 h of direct sun a day |
| Water | Low; drought tolerance high, waterlogging tolerance low |
| Cold hardiness | About -30 °C (-22 °F) once established (roughly USDA zone 4) |
| Heat stress | Likely above about 36 °C (97 °F) |
| Flowering | from about June for 9–14 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones) |
| Wind tolerance | Moderate |
| Pollinator value | High |
| Edible | Not grown as food |
| Common in gardens of | 🇺🇸 United States, 🇬🇧 United Kingdom, 🇩🇪 Germany, 🇨🇦 Canada |
Is Purple coneflower toxic?
- People: not known to be toxic
- Cats: not known to be toxic
- Dogs: not known to be toxic
Echinacea is listed as non-toxic to cats and dogs.
If a child or pet may have eaten part of a plant, call a poison centre or vet straight away.
Companion planting: what to grow with Purple coneflower
Good neighbours
- good With Cucumber: Pollinator-attracting flowers can increase insect visits for insect-pollinated crops nearby. Evidence C
See Purple coneflower in a botanical garden
It grows in these sample gardens, which you can walk through in 3D:
- Brooklyn Botanic Garden (5 plants)
- Missouri Botanical Garden (16 plants)
- Longwood Gardens (16 plants)
- Denver Botanic Gardens (14 plants)
- New York Botanical Garden (12 plants)
- Riverside botanical garden (20 plants)
Questions about Purple coneflower
- How far apart should I plant Purple coneflower?
- About 50 cm (20 in) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 40–60 cm (16–24 in).
- Does Purple coneflower need full sun?
- Full sun: at least 6 hours of direct sun a day.
- How much water does Purple coneflower need?
- Low water. Drought tolerance is high and waterlogging tolerance low.
- How cold-hardy is Purple coneflower?
- It tolerates about -30 °C (-22 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 4.
- When does Purple coneflower flower?
- From about June for 9–14 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones).
- Is Purple coneflower poisonous to cats and dogs?
- For cats it is not known to be toxic; for dogs not known to be toxic; for people not known to be toxic. Echinacea is listed as non-toxic to cats and dogs.
- What grows well with Purple coneflower?
- Pollinator-attracting flowers can increase insect visits for insect-pollinated crops nearby.
Sources and evidence
Evidence grade C (C: plausible, mixed evidence).
- ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List, ASPCA
- FAO Irrigation and Drainage Paper 56 — Crop Evapotranspiration, FAO
- RHS Plant Finder, Royal Horticultural Society
- University extension gardening guides (general), Various land-grant university extensions
Notes and assumptions
- Typical garden-cultivar values; varieties differ.
Reference values for planning, not horticultural, veterinary or medical advice. Varieties, soils and local climates differ: check with a local nursery or extension service.
Related plants
- Lettuce Lactuca sativa
- Sunflower Helianthus annuus
- French marigold Tagetes patula
- Zinnia Zinnia elegans
- Cosmos Cosmos bipinnatus
- Black-eyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta
- French tarragon Artemisia dracunculus
- German chamomile Matricaria chamomilla