Purple Coneflower Plant Care

Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) belongs to the Asteraceae family within the Echinacea genus. Purple Coneflower is native to Central to southeastern United States. Purple Coneflower is also known as Eastern Purple Coneflower, Hedgehog Coneflower, echinacea.

Purple Coneflower displays an upright, clumping growth habit, reaching up to 3 ft tall with a spread of approximately 1 ft. Purple Coneflower produces vibrant purple petals and a distinctive cone-shaped center.

Leaf size: approximately 6 inches.

Water a young or newly planted Purple Coneflower every 7–14 days, soaking the whole root zone, until it is established — usually one to two growing seasons. Established shrubs mainly need water during long dry spells. In a container, water whenever the top few centimetres of soil are dry.

Purple Coneflower thrives in full sun.

Echinacea purpurea tolerates temperatures of 60–80°F. Purple Coneflower prefers humidity levels of 40–60%.

Well-draining, loamy soil. Good drainage is essential for Purple Coneflower to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.

Feed Purple Coneflower every month during the growing season with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer at the rate on the label. Established shrubs in good soil often need little extra feeding, so let weak growth or pale foliage guide you.

Stop feeding by late summer so new growth can harden before winter.

The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.

Choose a spot with full sun and well-draining, loamy soil. Avoid low spots where water collects after rain.

Purple Coneflower is suited to USDA Zone 3a – 9b.

Plant container-grown or balled-and-burlapped shrubs in spring or early autumn, setting the root flare at soil level, and water well after planting.

Purple Coneflower can spread to about 1 ft (0.3 m) and reach about 3 ft (1 m) tall. Space plants about 1 ft (0.3 m) apart so mature crowns don't crowd each other, and plant at least half that distance from buildings, fences and paths.

Planning a row or hedge? Try the plant spacing calculator.

Prune Purple Coneflower while it is dormant in late winter: first remove dead, damaged and crossing branches, then thin lightly for shape.

If it flowers in spring, prune right after flowering instead so you don't remove next year's buds. Never take off more than about a quarter of the shrub in one year.

Purple Coneflower is hardy down to USDA zone 3a, so once established it can stay outdoors through winter in that zone and warmer ones.

Water deeply in late autumn before the ground freezes, and spread a 5–8 cm (2–3 in) layer of mulch over the root zone, keeping it away from the trunk.

Young and container-grown shrubs need extra protection: roots in a pot freeze much more easily than roots in the ground.

Purple Coneflower can be propagated through division or seed sowing. Similar propagation techniques also apply to narrowleaf purple coneflower plant care, which shares the same genus.

See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.

Purple Coneflower is susceptible to aphids, japanese beetles. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.

Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.

Purple Coneflower grows outdoors in USDA Zone 3a – 9b. It survives winters down to planting zone 3a. Purple Coneflower is native to Central to southeastern United States.