Echinacea is a genus containing 9 plants, belong to daisy family Astraceae. This nine species are commonly called Coneflowers. They are endemic to eastern and central North America, where they are found growing in moist to dry prairies and open wooded areas. They have large, showy heads of composite flowers, blooming from early to late summer. The generic name is rooted in the Greek word echino, meaning “sea urchin,” due to the spiny central disk. The common name “cone flower” comes from the characteristic center “cone” at the center of the flower.  Some species are used in herbal medicines and some are cultivated in gardens for their showy flowers.

Echinacea purpurea is belong to genus Echinacea of the daisy family Asteraceae. The specific epithet purpurea refers to the purple colour of the flowers. Its cone-shaped flowering heads are generally, purple in the wild. Native to North America, Purple Coneflower is found from the states of Georgia to Louisiana and Oklahoma and northwards to Virginia, Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, Iowa and Missouri. It inhabits rocky, open woodlands and prairies and is sometimes found on wetter soils adjacent to rivers and streams.

Echinacea purpurea is a rhizometous (underground stem), perennial herb, growing up to 150 cm tall by 50 cm wide at maturity. Above ground it has rough stems, which often branch near the top and bear soft, short hairs. Leaves arise from the base of the stem and are 15×10 cm with coarsely, irregularly toothed margins. The flower heads are up to 15 cm in diameter. Purple Coneflower’s flower heads have, typically 200-300 fertile, bisexual disc florets but some have more. The central disc-florets are orange. The outer, sterile, florets are red-purple with green tips and 3–8 cm long. It is pollinated by butterflies and bees. Although the plant prefers loamy or sandy, well-drained soils, it is little affected by the soil’s pH. The corollas are pinkish, greenish, reddish-purple or yellow and have tubes shorter than the throats. Depending on the climate, it blooms throughout spring and summer. Best flower display is late June to late July, with sporadic continued bloom into autumn.

Echinacea purpurea easily grown in average, dry to medium, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade. An adaptable plant that is tolerant of drought, heat, humidity and poor soil. Divide clumps when they become overcrowded (about every 3-4 years). Plants usually rebloom without deadheading, however prompt removal of spent flowers improves general appearance.

Purple Coneflower can be propagated either vegetatively or from seeds. Useful vegetative techniques include division, root cuttings, and basal cuttings. Clumps can be divided, or broken into smaller bunches, which is normally done in the spring or autumn. Cuttings made from roots that are 0,5 cm, will develop into plants when started in late autumn or early winter. Cuttings of basal shoots in the spring may be rooted when treated with rooting hormones.

Use in Landscape: Echinacea purpurea excellent, long-blooming flower for massing in the border, meadow, native plant garden, naturalized area, wildflower garden or part shade area of woodland garden. Often massed with black-eyed Susans (rudbeckias).

Purple Coneflower grown as an ornamental plant, and numerous cultivars have been developed for flower quality and plant form. Cultivated as an ornamental in temperate areas, Echinacea purpurea is also grown for cut flowers by those who appreciate its large, late summer daisies with their prominent, orange cone.

Although E. angustifolia was the most widely used medicinal plant by the Native Americans, the rhizome of Echinacea purpurea has also been employed in Native American medicine. Medicines made using Echinaceaspecies have been shown to have antiviral effects and to stimulate the production of white blood-cells and are marketed as products to relieve the symptoms of colds and to aid wound-healing.

The fresh juice of the above-ground parts of Purple Coneflower, has also been approved in Germany for use in restoring damaged tissue and for assisting the human body in fighting infection.