Echinacea angustifolia is a compact prairie native known for its narrow leaves and strong taproot with pale pink to rose purple petals that reflex away from a large coppery central cone. Used medicinally by Indigenous communities and early settlers, it is highly drought resistant and one of the first coneflowers to bloom in summer, attracting pollinators even in the most exposed locations.
Height & Spread: 12 - 24 in x 12 - 18 in
Bloom Time: Late spring to mid summer
Light Requirements: Full sun
Soil Preference: Well drained, sandy or rocky soil
Watering Needs: Low; extremely drought tolerant once established
Deer Resistance: Seldom browsed by deer due to tough foliage and central cone
Native Status
This species is native to the central and Great Plains regions of North America, including parts of the Midwest and southern Canada where it grows in dry prairies and open hillsides.
WILDLIFE & INSECTS
Butterflies
- Attracts a range of butterflies such as Painted Ladies, Great Spangled Fritillaries, and Swallowtails with its long blooming nectar rich flowers.
Bees
- Highly attractive to native bumblebees, digger bees, and long horned bees which collect both nectar and pollen from its large central disk.
Moths
- Visited at dusk by nocturnal moths including species from the Sphinx and Owlet families for late day nectar access.
Birds
- Finches, especially American Goldfinches, feed on the seeds in late summer and fall often perching directly on the coneheads to forage.
Spacing & Landscape Use
Spacing Recommendations:
- Space 12 - 18 in apart to accommodate upright clumps and allow airflow between mature plants.
Landscape Placement:
- Suitable for dry borders, wildflower gardens, prairie restorations, and pollinator meadows where resilience and early bloom are essential.
Companion Plants
- Coreopsis lanceolata (Lanceleaf Coreopsis) - Offers cheerful yellow blooms on wiry stems and thrives in the same well drained, sunny conditions.
- Callirhoe involucrata (Purple Poppy Mallow) - A trailing ground cover with bright magenta flowers that weaves between upright Echinacea plants without competing for vertical space.
- Asclepias tuberosa (Butterfly Milkweed) - Adds bold orange blooms that support Monarchs and other butterflies in dry prairies and gardens.
- Liatris punctata (Dotted Blazing Star) - Forms tight clumps of narrow foliage with upright purple spikes that flower through the heat of summer, pairing well in dry, open sites.
- Monarda punctata (Spotted Beebalm) - Produces stacked lavender and cream colored bracts that attract bees and predatory wasps, adding architectural interest.