Ohio Native Plant Natural Range
To view the natural range of Echinacea purpurea visit the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service website.
Native Plant of the Year 2017 - LEAP (Lake Erie Allegheny Partnership for Biodiversity)
United Plant Savers Medicinal Plant Conservation - Species at Risk
Wildlife Significance Purple Coneflower
Nectar Source - For wasps, butterflies: Swallowtail, Viceroy, Monarchs, sulfurs, grass skippers, fritillaries numerous bees including bumblebees, sweat bee and sunflower leafcutter bees, flies, and beetles
Pollen Source - Bees, flies and beetles
Host plant - For the Pearl Crescent butterfly, various checkerspots as well as 12 other butterflies.
Oligolectic Bees - are bees that are very particular as to what plant family they gather their nectar and pollen. Purple Coneflower is such a plant for the Andrena helianthiformis. Andrea - Mining Bees
For detailed information on Purple Coneflower, visit the Illinois Wildflower site
Pollen Source - Bees, flies and beetles
Host plant - For the Pearl Crescent butterfly, various checkerspots as well as 12 other butterflies.
Oligolectic Bees - are bees that are very particular as to what plant family they gather their nectar and pollen. Purple Coneflower is such a plant for the Andrena helianthiformis. Andrea - Mining Bees
For detailed information on Purple Coneflower, visit the Illinois Wildflower site
Historical Herbal Remedies Echinacea purpurea
.jpeg "Two bees on Purple Coneflower")
*Information in the following paragraphs is strictly provided for educational purposes only. Nodding Onion Gardens is not qualified or certified to make any herbal recommendations. We are merely fascinated by how closely knit relationships held between pollinators, birds, wildlife, plants and people truly are!
Purple Coneflower seems to have the distinction of being the darling of both the Native Plant Movement as well as with Herbalist. She does an incredible job bridging the gap between both worlds. What a work horse, providing: nectar and pollen for insects, bees and butterflies, seed and nesting material for birds and small mammals. One would think her responsibilities would end there, but this is not the case. Echinacea has a long history of being invaluable medicine for Indigenous people. Choctaw used roots for cough medicine and stomach issues. Cherokee treated fevers, headaches, ear and tooth infections. During the United States Civil War it was held in high regard, fighting: infections, inflammation, spider bites, wounds and canker sores. Today it is thought to help boost the immune system. Sadly, there is a down side. These incredible diverse qualities landed Purple Coneflower a seat on the United Plant Savers At Risk List. All is not lost, There are things we can do to help. Please don't harvest from the wild unless you have been given permission. This plant is super easy to grow, seed is readily available. Why not give it a try. Also, it is a mainstay on Native Plant Nursery inventory lists.