Additional information about this plant may be found at the USDA PLANTS Database:
http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=ECPU
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Additional information about this plant may be found at the USDA PLANTS Database: http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=ECPU
|
Purple coneflower in July |
Eastern purple coneflower, a member of the Asteraceae (Aster) family, can grow up to 5 feet tall with many branched stems, although plants are fewer-branched and shorter in exposed sites. Leaves are rough, coarsely toothed, alternate, mostly stalked, up to 8 inches long and 5 inches wide. Flower heads occur on individual stalks near the tops of stems, with each head 2 1/2 to 5 inches wide and consisting of up to 20 purple, petal-like ray flowers surrounding a cone-shaped head of disk flowers. | 
Purple coneflower in July |
| Eastern purple coneflowers bloom late spring to fall. They are found occasionally in prairies and open woodlands, usually in moister sites; scattered through the tallgrass region west to southeastern Kansas. | 
Purple coneflower in July |
This plant is a popular ornamental, and many populations are escapes from cultivars. Eastern purple coneflowers were used by Native Americans as medicinals and there is still a market today for the roots which are used to make herbal medicines and tonics. |
Purple coneflower in August |
Purple coneflower in August |
Purple coneflower in August |
Purple coneflower in August |