Echinacea purpurea , commonly known as Purple Coneflower , is part of theEchinaceagenus within the Asteraceae family , which is also have sex as the daisy or helianthus family . This species is characterize by its large , daisy - similar flowers with prominent , cone shape - shaped , barbed central platter ring by droop , imperial to pink petals . The name “ Echinacea ” arrive from the Greek tidings “ echinos , ” meaning hedgehog or sea urchin , referring to the spiny cardinal cone .
Purple Coneflower is native to the easterly and central neighborhood of North America . Its natural range includes field from Pennsylvania in the Northeast , south to Georgia , and Occident to Oklahoma and Louisiana . It grows in various habitats , let in open Ellen Price Wood , prairie , and along roadsides , where it favour well - drain soils in full sun or fond shade .
Historically , Echinacea purpureahas been significant among aboriginal American tribes , particularly the Plains tribes like the Lakota and Cheyenne , who used it for medicinal design . They utilized the plant to handle a wide array of ailments , from wounds and snakebites to infections and odontalgia . Its immune - boosting property have made it one of the most widely used herbal therapeutic in mod times , specially in the form of Echinacea supplements aimed at fighting frigidness and boosting the immune system . In the 19th century , it was adopt by European settlers and afterwards became popular in gardening for its cosmetic time value , leading to the development of numerous cultivars with dissimilar bloom colouration and forms . The Purple Coneflower has also become an emblematic specie in native industrial plant gardening for its ecological benefit , appeal pollinators and supporting biodiversity .
Purple Coneflower is well - adapted to USDA Hardiness Zones 3 through 9 . This full range reflects its resiliency to diverse climates , from the cold wintertime of northern geographical zone to the hot , humid summers of the South . It thrives in conditions that mime its aboriginal surround , requiring good sun for optimum flowering but also exhibit permissiveness for some specter . Its adaptability to various soil types , though favour well - run out soil , make it a various choice for both formal gardens and naturalistic landscape . Its lustiness , combined with its medicinal and bionomic value , has cement its situation in both gardens and health practice session .
