Nodding Onion Gardens

Native Plant Nursery

Where Wildflowers Grow

Columbia Station, Ohio, USA
 

Ratibida pinnata  

  Yellow Coneflower or Gray-Headed

 

Ohio Native Plant - Natural Range


Visit the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service website to view the natural range of Ratibida pinnata
one sigle yellow coneflower
Coneflowers add character to a garden - jim Wohl

Wildlife Significance

 Pollen -This plant is popular with several species of bees:Cuckoo bee, large Leaf- Cutting bees, Green Metallic bees and syrphid flies

Nectar - syrphid flies, butterflies including: viceroy, sulphur, eastern tailed-blue, crescent and hairstreak

Host Plant - For caterpillars of the Silvery Checkerspot (butterfly) and Wavy-lined Emerald Moth which is a lime green moth that blends in with the leaves of Ratibida pinnata perfectly. If you have a keen eye you might be lucky enough to spot these fellows during the month of June

Seed - Goldfinches
For more details on this plant visit the Illinois Wildflower website
Ratibida pinnata
Ratibida pinnata

Seed Provenance - Ratibida pinnata 

Prairie Moon Nursery, Winona, MN - Nodding Onion Gardens - 2012 - present
Bright yellow flowers with dark centers
Gray - Headed Coneflower - Jim Wohl
Cultivation Information
Height - 2 to 5 ft
Flower Color -Yellow
Blooms - July - September
Sun - Full sun to part shade

Hardy Zone - 3 to 9
Soil - Moist to dry soil with little organic material

Family - Asteraceae
Gray -Headed Coneflower
Ratibida pinnata

Propagation Notes -


Cold Storage - 30 days - Small Zip lock plastic bag with a few table spoons of  moistened vermiculite

Seeds Planted - 2-12-2012

Sprouted - 2-29-2012

Night Temperature - 61 - 63°F

Day Temperature - 64 - 65°F -Under florescent lights

Natural Sunlight - 3-6-12 - Exposed a few hours each day to natural sunlight
a filed of Ratibida pinnata