Echinacea / purple coneflower
Common Name: Purple Coneflower
The name Echinacea comes from the Greek word for 'sea urchin,' referring to the spiky appearance of the flowers. Native species of Echinacea and most cultivars are highly attractive bee plants, especially when planted in good-sized clusters. Green sweat bees, leafcutter bees, bumble bees and long-horned bees are frequent visitors to these lovely, perennial composite flowers.
Central and Eastern North America
Although native to the eastern U.S., Echinacea purpurea is a hardy, commercially available species of Echinacea, which can be grown in many regions of the U.S. and Canada.
Average, but drought-tolerant once established
Echinacea purpurea (eastern purple coneflower)
Echinacea pallida (pale purple coneflower)
Echinacea angustifolia (blacksamson coneflower)