Purple Coneflower
Echinacea purpurea
Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) is a perennial suited to the Colorado Front Range. It matures to about 24–36 in tall and 18–24 in wide, needs low to medium water, and prefers full sun to partial shade. Classic pollinator-garden staple; long-blooming purple daisies; goldfinch food in fall.
On the CSU listlow to medium water24–36 in tall and 18–24 in wideXeric / water-wiseZones 1–3 (can be planted near the house)Deer-resistant
Photos
- Photo 1: Burkhard Mücke, Wikimedia Commons (CC-BY-SA)
- Photo 2: (c) Zachary Dankowicz, some rights reserved (CC BY)
- Photo 3: no rights reserved
- Photo 4: no rights reserved
- Photo 5: W. Bulach, Wikimedia Commons (CC-BY-SA)
- Photo 6: Reinhold Möller Ermell, Wikimedia Commons (CC-BY-SA)
At a glance
Will it survive here?
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 3–9
- Water needs
- low to medium water
- Sun
- Best in full sun; tolerates partial shade.
- Soil
- clay, loam, sandy
- Soil pH
- 6.5–8.0
- Hail tolerance
- high
- Wind tolerance
- high
- Salt tolerance
- moderate
- Firewise (defensible space)
- Zones 1–3 (can be planted near the house)
How big, what shape?
- Mature size
- 24–36 in tall and 18–24 in wide
- Planting spacing
- ~17–24 in apart
What it looks like, and when
- Bloom time
- mid summer, late summer
- Bloom color
- purple, pink
- Bloom length
- Long (several weeks)
- Foliage
- Deciduous
Who else benefits
- Pollinator value
- high
- Deer
- Generally deer-resistant
- Colorado native
- No
Things to know before you plant
- Spreads aggressivelyHeavy self-seeder; new plants pop up several feet from parent
Planting & establishment
Deep-water first season to establish, then minimal water needed.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Purple Coneflower good for the Colorado Front Range?
- Yes, Purple Coneflower is a well-suited perennial for Colorado's Front Range.
- What should I know before planting Purple Coneflower?
- The main things to know: Heavy self-seeder; new plants pop up several feet from parent
- How big does Purple Coneflower get?
- It matures to about 24–36 in tall and 18–24 in wide.
- How far apart do I plant Purple Coneflower?
- Space Purple Coneflower about 17 in apart for a faster, fuller bed, or up to 24 in apart for a looser planting.
- Is Purple Coneflower hardy on the Front Range?
- Purple Coneflower is hardy in USDA 3–9. The Colorado Front Range spans roughly USDA 4b–6a, so it is well within range.
- How much water does Purple Coneflower need?
- It needs low to medium water once established.
- Is Purple Coneflower native to Colorado?
- No. It is not a Colorado native, but it grows well on the Front Range.
- Is Purple Coneflower deer-resistant?
- Purple Coneflower is generally considered deer-resistant, though no plant is deer-proof when browse pressure is high.
- Is Purple Coneflower a good firewise plant near the house?
- Purple Coneflower is a lower-fuel choice suitable in defensible-space zones 1–3, it can be planted near the house when kept well irrigated and maintained. This is general suitability guidance based on CSU Extension firewise plant lists, not a guarantee that any plant won't burn, a well-irrigated, well-maintained plant is the goal. Follow CSU Extension defensible-space guidance and check with your local fire district before planting in the wildland-urban interface.
- How long does Purple Coneflower bloom?
- Purple Coneflower blooms for several weeks, a long-season performer on the Front Range. Bloom timing shifts a week or two with elevation and spring weather.
