Information courtesy of Magna Vista High School students

 

 

 

 

 

The Echinacea magnus is commonly called the purple coneflower. The scientific name of the coneflower comes from the Greek word "echinos," which means hedgehog. The flower is a part of the Asteraceceae family. It attracts butterflies, native bees, honey bees and bumble bees. The purple coneflower has tiny purple streaks and white furry hairs on the light green stem. The flower grows up to 3.5 inches tall. The alternate leaves are up to six inches long and three inches horizontally. The orange-brownish center of the flower is raised up, and the purple and pink petals droop down. The flower only grows in eastern and central North America. It rarely grows anywhere else in the world. This very beneficial flower such as a cough, cold or sore throat. 

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The Echinacea magnus was sent to England in 1699 by eastern explorers who found it in the southwest forests in the America. The plant became the most popular flower in Europe, because it was a medicinal herb that people could use and is also ornamental. Popularity surged in the 1980's and 1990's. It was awarded the 1998 Perennial Plant of the Year award.

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Chesapeake Bay partnership,

Purple coneflower, Echinacea Magnus 1983

Care & Maintenance of purple coneflower, SF 

Purple Coneflower, fine gardening