The flowers are arranged in heads and can be up to three inches wide.  This rounded central portion contains a hundred or more brown disc flowers, while from the edge, about two dozen rose-purple ray flowers radiate and can be up to an inch long.⁴ The fruits of Echinacea purpurea are four-angled and are about 1/4 inch long.⁴

Geographic Location: 
This flowering plant can be found on the east side of the Nazareth College greenhouse, next to Carroll Hall. 

Optimal Growing Conditions: 
The purple coneflower grows best in lower elevations, where the winters are found to be somewhat mild. It is mainly found in dry and well drained soil, in areas of moderate temperatures, where it can also successfully thrive in full to partial sun.⁸ 

Economic Importance: 
The seeds and plant of the purple coneflower are commonly sold in greenhouses, nurseries, and other plant providers nationwide. This beautiful plant is often chosen for decorative purposes and planted in gardens. Because of the increasing  therapeutic and clinical importance of the Echinacea, the demand is increasing and therefore the growth and harvesting of this flower is becoming economically impacting.  

Ethnobotanical and Cultural Information:
Many cultures all over the world, and specifically in the United States, have used this plant for a variety of purposes for many years. The Plains Indians, for example, valued this plant for a variety of medicinal uses such as colds, burns, snakebites, and cancers.  The early settlers learned of its uses and now Echinacea is a popular herbal remedy used throughout Europe and the United States.⁶  The dried roots of this plant have the most useful medicinal properties. Some of the medicinal properties of the Purple coneflower known today are:  antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antiviral (both RNA and DNA viruses), activates macrophages to cytotoxicity against tumor cells and micro-organisms, decreases inflammatory allergic reactions to mild food allergies, immune stimulating in many ways, and root oil has inhibited leukemia cells in vitro and in vivo.  Because of these properties purple coneflower has been used to treat pain, blood conditions, infection, spread of disease, and skin conditions including acne, boils, and burns.^1,2

Fascinating Facts:

• The popularity of E. purpurea has increased the harvesting of the plant throughout the United States. This is leading to borderline endangerment and disappearance of populations, as well as related species.⁶
• The flowers of E. purpurea are very successful in attracting butterflies, and for this reason it is commonly used in gardens.⁵

Other interesting sites

More about the plant

More about medicinal uses

More about cultivating 

References: Articles, Books, Reference Materials, and the Web 

1. Hutchens A. 1973. Indian Herbalogy of North America. Boston: Shambhala Publications, Inc. 382p.
2. Natural Medical Solutions, http://www.natmedpro.com/nmp/Echinace.htm, 11/11/01
3. Organic Echinacea Farm, http://www.hawaiiherb.com/, 11/14/01
4. Rickert Nature Preserves, http://www.holoweb.com/cannon/purple2.htm, 11/11/01
5. Riverview Flower Farms, http://floridafriendlyplants.com/, 11/11/01
6. Sumner J. 2000. The Natural History of Medicinal Plants. Portland: Timber Press Inc. 235p.
7. http://tnolan.tripod.com/Plant_List/Echinacea.htm, 11/14/01
8. Tonhouse G, http://www.reflectiveimages.com/PalePurpleConeFlower.htm, 11/11/01

Created by:  Tammy J. Schildhauer, 2001