Echinacea pallida - Pale Purple Coneflower - 38 Plug Tray

Pale purple coneflower is an iconic dry prairie species. Its thin, pale rays droop decisively downard and are strongly contrasted against its spiky copper-brown cone center. The flowers have a stunning visual effect in prairie plantings and serve as an important early nectar source for butterflies and hummingbirds. The seeds that develop thereafter are a favorite of goldfinches and other songbirds. This plant is also used as a larval host for the ottoe-skipper butterfly.

This species performs well in a variety of full sun environments with well-drained soil, and once it establishes its deep taproot it is extremely resistant to drought. The roots of all echinacea species have been used historically for medicine, and they are still used in herbal formulations today. The name echinacea is derived from the Greek word for hedgehog or sea-urchin, referring to the spiky central flower cone. This plant is well-suited for pollinator gardens, cottage gardens, and naturalized prairie plantings. Its close relative, purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) starts blooming toward the end of pale purple coneflower’s bloom window, so the two can be planted together for several weeks of attractive echinacea blooms.