North American prairie native with bold pink-purple coneflowers through summer. Strong bee and butterfly plant.
Hardiness ratings
| System | Rating | Temperature range | How to read it |
|---|---|---|---|
| USDA hardiness zone | Zone 3–9 | −40 °C to −1.1 °C | Plant tolerates down to this zone |
| RHS hardiness rating | H7 | down to −20 °C | Plant needs at least this level of cold tolerance |
| Canadian plant hardiness zone | Zone 3–9 | −34 °C and warmer | Plant tolerates down to this zone |
| Australian (ANBG) zone | Zone 1–5 | −15 °C to 10 °C | Plant tolerates down to this zone |
About Echinacea (Coneflower)
Echinacea is a prairie plant from central and eastern North America, and its deep taproot is an adaptation to that origin — it is the reason established plants tolerate drought well and also the reason they dislike being divided or moved. The genus name comes from the Greek for hedgehog, a reference to the spiky central cone. It has a substantial reputation as a herbal remedy for colds, though controlled trials have produced mixed and often unconvincing results. Seedheads left standing through winter are a significant food source for finches.
Growing notes
- Roots used in traditional herbal medicine for immune support
- Leave seed heads through winter — finches feed on them and they look striking with frost
- Always consult a qualified medical or herbal practitioner before medicinal use.
Categories
Related plants
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