Purple coneflower
Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench
Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) is a perennial aster-family herb 0.6-1.2 m tall with lance-shaped leaves and purple-pink flower heads around an orange spiny cone, grown as an ornamental and medicinal plant.
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Purple coneflower — seedsPurple coneflower — flower
Purple coneflower — flowers
Purple coneflower — central cone
Purple coneflower — leaves
Purple coneflower — seedlingPurple coneflower — seedsPurple coneflower — flowerOverview
**Purple coneflower** (Echinacea purpurea), also called **eastern purple coneflower** or **echinacea**, is a **perennial** herb of the aster family (Asteraceae), 0.6-1.2 m tall. Its **leaves** are alternate on the stem and gathered into a basal rosette, egg- to lance-shaped with **toothed or smooth margins**, slightly rough. Each **flower head** bears drooping **purple-pink ray florets** around a raised, **spiny orange-brown central cone** of tiny disc florets. The **fruit** is a dry **cypsela** (achene). Native to **eastern and central North America**, it is now widely cultivated.
Updated by lebachungtdh@gmail.com · 10/13/2026
Purple coneflower is grown as an **ornamental** for its long-lasting purple-pink flowers that attract bees and butterflies, and it is an important **medicinal** plant: the roots and aerial parts contain **alkamides, polysaccharides and caffeic acid (echinacoside)** used to **support the immune system** and help prevent and ease **colds**. Easy to grow, it prefers sun and well-drained soil and is fairly drought-tolerant. The IUCN lists it as **Least Concern (LC)**.
Updated by lebachungtdh@gmail.com · 10/13/2026
Life cycle
From seed to productGermination & seedling
The seed germinates into a small **seedling** that grows slowly in its first year.
Leaf growth
The plant develops **egg- to lance-shaped leaves** in a basal rosette and along the stem.
Flowering
From summer to autumn, **purple-pink flowers** open around the orange central cone, attracting bees and butterflies.
Fruiting & seed
After flowering, the central cone dries and releases small brown **cypselae (seeds)**.
Distribution & origin
Share of recorded occurrences by region- Eastern & central North America (native)40%
- Europe (cultivated)20%
- Other North America (cultivated/introduced)15%
- Asia (cultivated)15%
- Elsewhere (cultivated)10%
Chemical composition
Relative content in agarwood resin- AlkamidesMain root actives, immune-stimulating25%
- PolysaccharidesSupport immunity and reduce inflammation20%
- Caffeic acid (echinacoside)Antioxidant20%
- FlavonoidsAntioxidant, cell-protective15%
- Essential oilGives the characteristic aroma10%
- Minerals & vitaminsPotassium, iron, vitamin C10%
Uses
- Ornamental: long-lasting **purple-pink flowers** for borders, beds and cutting gardens.
- Medicinal: the **roots and aerial parts** are used to **support immunity** and help prevent and ease colds.
- Nutraceutical: coneflower extract is common in **capsules, syrups and teas**.
- Ecological support: the flowers provide **nectar and pollen for bees and butterflies**, attracting beneficial insects.
- Ground cover: its strong roots help **hold soil and curb erosion** in gardens and on slopes.
Properties
- Morphology
- Erect herb; **egg- to lance-shaped leaves**; **purple-pink flowers around a spiny orange cone**
- Flower & cone
- Drooping ray florets around a raised cone of disc florets
- Medicinal value
- Alkamides and polysaccharides stimulate immunity, help against colds
- Cultivation
- Prefers sun, well-drained soil, drought-tolerant; attracts pollinators
Habitat & conservation
Purple coneflower prefers **full sun** and loose, well-drained, rather dry soil; it is fairly drought-tolerant and cold-hardy. Native to prairies, open woods and grasslands of **eastern and central North America**, it now grows in gardens, parks and roadsides and is cultivated throughout temperate regions.
Conservation
Purple coneflower is listed by the IUCN as **Least Concern (LC)** — a common, non-threatened species; native North American populations are stable and the plant is widely cultivated. The main concern is **over-harvesting** of wild plants for medicine.
References
- 1POWO — Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench — Plants of the World Online (Kew), 2026
- 2GBIF — Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench (key 3150935) — GBIF, 2026
- 3IUCN Red List — Echinacea purpurea (Least Concern) — IUCN Red List, 2026
- 4Wikipedia EN — Echinacea purpurea — Wikipedia EN, 2026
- 5Wikipedia VI — Echinacea purpurea — Wikipedia VI, 2026
- 6Wikipedia ZH — 松果菊 — Wikipedia ZH, 2026
- 7Ảnh: Echinacea purpurea (hoa, lá, cây con, hạt) — Wikimedia Commons — Wikimedia Commons, 2026