Ontario Native
Pale Purple Coneflower
Echinacea pallida
Flower colour
Pale pink to lavender-purple flowers with long, narrow petals that droop downward from a coppery-orange central cone.
Bloom time
Summer through early fall
Height
36-60"
Spread
45 cm
Light
Full sun
Moisture
Average to dry. Its deep taproot makes it one of the most drought-hardy perennials for sunny spots.
Native to Ontario
Yes
Ecological benefit
It is a critical early-summer nectar source for bumblebees, honeybees, and butterflies. It serves as a larval host for the Silvery Checkerspot butterfly and provides food for the Ottoe Skipper, an endangered butterfly in Canada. : The deep taproot helps aerate compacted soil and improves water infiltration.
Notes
If seed heads are left over winter, they provide important food for goldfinches and other songbirds.