Purple coneflower native to Ohio

My favorite native Ohio perennial flower is the purple coneflower, scientific name Echinacea purpurea. The large pink flowers on tall stems brighten up the garden from late June until August. They are attractive to birds and are host and nectar plants for butterflies and moths. Native to the central plains of North America, purple coneflowers are hardy in zones 3 to 8 (we are in zone 6) and can be grown from Ohio and Michigan to Iowa and as far south as Georgia and Louisiana. They can be grown in either small or large gardens. Purple coneflowers like sun or part shade. They grow in average dry to medium well-drained soil. They can be grown from seed or from division of plants. Though tolerant of drought, it is best to water them thoroughly each week when newly planted. The plant will develop deep roots that will help it tolerate drought in later years. The blossom of the coneflower grows on a tall 2- to 5-feet-high stem. The leaves are a long oval shape with a distinctly pointed tip. They feel rough to the touch and are slightly hairy. Leaves at the bottom of the plant will be longer than those at the top. The flower is a daisy shape of pinkish-purple petals with an inch wide center crown. Eighteen or more petals, oval with a slight cut in the tip, circle the crown head in rays and then droop down. The crown head begins as a deep orange prickly disc in the center and then darkens and becomes cone shaped. The flower can then resemble a badminton birdie — hence the name coneflower. The crown head contains the seeds of the plant. The prickly texture is where the name "Echinacea" is derived, from the Greek "chinos" for hedgehog. The seeds are food for goldfinches and other birds. Coneflowers are excellent in flower arrangements, with dried or fresh. The flower stalks can be left in the garden all winter. They will stay erect and provide winter interest. Coneflower is mentioned in historical records of Lewis and Clark, though this is probably Echinacea angustifolia. It was used to treat snakebite as told to the expedition by a Canadian trader Hugh Henry. Most of us are aware that Echinacea is also found in herbal teas used bolster the immune system or help symptoms of the common cold. We also have records of the purple coneflower found by John Bannister in a forest in the southeastern United States in the 17th century. He harvested the seeds and then sent them to England in 1699. They became popular in the European gardens in the late 1800s In the 1960s, German botanists began developing new cultivars. Today the coneflower hybrids come in many colors and shapes. According to Katie Schmidt of Dyck Arboretum of Kansas, there is debate about the benefit of the hybrids. Native United States coneflowers include the purple coneflower, a pale purple coneflower named Echinacea pallida, droopy pale pink coneflower named echinaecea angustifolia and yellow coneflower named echinaecea paradoxa. These provide nectar and seeds for birds and animals. Hybrids of red, orange, pink, green or even multicolor may not be beneficial. Some are sterile. Schmidt calls these "newfangled" varieties. She talks about the need for hand pollination to create stable genetic lines. While new hybrids provide color and variety to the garden, "if you want an ecological planting that increases biodiversity and improves habitat, then stick with Kansas natives." Prairie enthusiasts include purple coneflower on their list of plants, but these plants will also grow in the small garden. I first grew purple coneflowers in a large bed in front of my country home with plants came from a local nursery. When I moved two years ago, I transplanted several plants in the bed at the side of my condo. They are flourishing. This is a native plant we can all grow.