Pale Purple Coneflower (Echinacea pallida)

Pale Purple Coneflower is a beautiful, hardy, long-lived perennial wildflower native to parts of central North America, including southwestern Ontario. Its distinctive flowers feature long, slender, gracefully drooping petals in delicate shades of pale pink to lavender-purple, surrounding a prominent copper-brown central cone. Flowering in early to midsummer, it grows approximately 60–120 cm tall and returns year after year.

An excellent plant for supporting biodiversity, Pale Purple Coneflower attracts native bees, bumblebees, butterflies and other beneficial pollinators. Its nectar and pollen provide valuable food during the summer, while its seed heads offer food for birds, including goldfinches, later in the season. Leaving the dried stems standing through winter also provides habitat for beneficial insects.

Like other echinaceas, Pale Purple Coneflower has a history of traditional medicinal use among Indigenous peoples of North America. Its roots have been used in herbal preparations, although evidence for medicinal effectiveness varies and it should not be considered a substitute for medical treatment.

Perfect for pollinator gardens, prairie plantings, naturalized areas and food forests, Pale Purple Coneflower thrives in full sun and well-drained soil. Its deep taproot makes it remarkably drought tolerant once established, allowing it to flourish in sandy, gravelly and relatively poor soils. It requires little maintenance and is best planted in a permanent location.

For best germination, sow seeds outdoors in autumn or winter in pots left under the snow, allowing natural cold stratification. Alternatively, stratify seeds in a moist medium in the refrigerator for approximately 60–90 days before spring sowing. Sow shallowly, cover lightly and keep moist until germination. Plants generally flower from their second year onward.

At least 25 seeds per packet