Echinacea pallida, or Pale Purple Coneflower, has large flowers with thin drooping petals. As the petals droop, they highlight the coppery-orange center cones, where all the pollen and nectar are stored for pollinators. The blooms are magnets for bees and butterflies, especially Painted Lady butterfly, Swallowtails, and Monarchs. Flowers start to bloom in June and it continues to blooms sporadically into fall. Spent flowers give rise to seed heads that birds enjoy!
The petals may flop, but the stems sure won't! Each flower is held on tall, rigid stems that reach 2-3 feet tall. It's drought-tolerant and deer resistant, making it easy to grow and enjoy in the garden. Try planting it with Rattlesnake Master to create a textured prairie garden.
Vital details:
Plant size: 2-3' tall x 1-1.5' wide
Light: full sun (6+ hrs/day), part sun (4-6 hrs/day)
Water: Dry to medium
Hardiness: USDA zone 3-10 (Find your hardiness zone)
Pollinator value: attracts butterflies, bees, and other pollinators.
Notable features: native, drought-tolerant, deer resistant, long-blooming.
Pot size: one quart
Plant name: Echinacea pallida
Customer Reviews
Of the 11 pallidas I ordered, only 6 survived after planting. I reached out about this and 2 other plants that did not make it—have not heard back.
Pallidas in the ground are doing OK so far.
They came neatly and safely packed. After only about a month in the ground, they are thriving! Make sure you water thoroughly for a while as they establish deep roots.
The Echinacea pallida plants arrived well packed and healthy. Plants are doing well in the garden but will have to wait and see if blooms appear this year.
I was happy on the condition of the plants received for fall planting. I am anxious for spring to see the unusual physical flower of the pallida. Thank you for the careful packaging of your plant shipments!
New landscape and we can hardly wait to see this beauty bloom in our yard.