Pale Purple Coneflower (Echinacea pallida)

from $8.00

A classic prairie native, this species is prized for its early bloom time and its daisy-like flowers. Its pale pink-to-lavender petals hang gracefully around a tall, copper-colored central cone. Pale Purple Coneflower should be planted in well-drained soil and prefers full sunlight.

Plant Profile

  • Sun Exposure Full Sun (preferred) to Partial Shade

  • Water Needs Low; highly drought-tolerant once established

  • Soil Type Well-drained Sand, Loam, or Rocky/Gravelly soil

  • Mature Height 2 – 3 feet

  • Deer Resistance High

  • Bloom Time June – July

  • Bloom Color‍ ‍Pink, Lavendar

  • Plant Spacing 10 – 18 inches

Plant Characteristics

  • Blooms: Unlike the horizontal petals of the Purple Coneflower (E. purpurea), the petals of the Pale Purple Coneflower are very thin and droop dramatically downward, giving the flower a unique, elegant silhouette.

  • Deep Taproot: It possesses an incredibly deep taproot making it one of the most drought-resistant perennials for a sunny garden, but it should not be moved once established.

  • Early Starter: This species typically blooms 2–3 weeks earlier than other coneflowers, making it the perfect "bridge" between spring flowers and the heat of mid-summer.

Wildlife Benefits

  • Pollinators: It blooms in early summer when only a few other plants are in bloom, providing a massive amount of nectar for hummingbirds and butterflies. The leaves provide food for the Ottoe-skipper larva.

  • Goldfinch Favorite: In late summer and fall, the cones turn dark and fill with oil-rich seeds. You will often see Goldfinches perched directly on the cones, plucking out the seeds.

Size:

A classic prairie native, this species is prized for its early bloom time and its daisy-like flowers. Its pale pink-to-lavender petals hang gracefully around a tall, copper-colored central cone. Pale Purple Coneflower should be planted in well-drained soil and prefers full sunlight.

Plant Profile

  • Sun Exposure Full Sun (preferred) to Partial Shade

  • Water Needs Low; highly drought-tolerant once established

  • Soil Type Well-drained Sand, Loam, or Rocky/Gravelly soil

  • Mature Height 2 – 3 feet

  • Deer Resistance High

  • Bloom Time June – July

  • Bloom Color‍ ‍Pink, Lavendar

  • Plant Spacing 10 – 18 inches

Plant Characteristics

  • Blooms: Unlike the horizontal petals of the Purple Coneflower (E. purpurea), the petals of the Pale Purple Coneflower are very thin and droop dramatically downward, giving the flower a unique, elegant silhouette.

  • Deep Taproot: It possesses an incredibly deep taproot making it one of the most drought-resistant perennials for a sunny garden, but it should not be moved once established.

  • Early Starter: This species typically blooms 2–3 weeks earlier than other coneflowers, making it the perfect "bridge" between spring flowers and the heat of mid-summer.

Wildlife Benefits

  • Pollinators: It blooms in early summer when only a few other plants are in bloom, providing a massive amount of nectar for hummingbirds and butterflies. The leaves provide food for the Ottoe-skipper larva.

  • Goldfinch Favorite: In late summer and fall, the cones turn dark and fill with oil-rich seeds. You will often see Goldfinches perched directly on the cones, plucking out the seeds.