Coneflower, Purple - Echinacea purpurea

Echinacea purpurea, also known as Purple Coneflower, is a perennial wildflower native to Michigan, maybe.* This is the poster child for the native plant movement. It is every bit as showy as its non-native counterparts. Purple Coneflower reaches 4 feet tall and flowers from July to August with a large purple blossom. To extend the purple bloom time, pair with Pale Purple Coneflower which blooms slightly earlier. Also pairs well with Showy Coneflower, Pearly Everlasting, Culver's Root, Blue Vervain, and Mountain Mint.
 
Purple Coneflower prefers full sun and moist, loamy soil. However, it can tolerate part shade and medium-dry soil and will grow in clay, loam or sand. May need water during drought. It is extremely popular with butterflies and bees, and is a host plant for Checkerspot butterflies and several showy moths. The pithy stems are used by tiny, solitary native bees as nest chambers, so be sure are leave about 18” of stem if you are trimming them back. The long stems also make this a great cut flower. The seeds are a bird food source and the plant has been widely used medicinally. 
 
Purple Coneflower is best grown in groupings of 3, 5, or more plants. This increases the visual impact and concentrates nectar resources, making it a more appealing stop for butterflies and birds. This easy-to-grow, showy, useful flower is a must-have for any garden.
 
*When we started our nursery in 2020, Michigan Flora said that Purple Coneflower was adventive (migrated, possibly with human help) and not native to Michigan. Instead, they listed Pale Purple Coneflower as native to both Michigan and the UP. Sometime in 2021 or 2022, they decided Purple Coneflower was native, and Pale Purple Coneflower was adventive. As of January 2023, Purple Coneflower has two descriptions on the same page of Michigan Flora, one saying Native and the other Adventive, so apparently the debate continues. The point is, these determinations are subject to revision and interpretation. Worst case scenario is that Purple Coneflower is native to adjacent states and naturalized into Michigan.