Yellow Coneflower is a native wildflower in the Aster family and is native to the central US from Missouri south to Texas. It is listed as threatened in Arkansas. This plant will grow up to 3 feet tall and produce several showy blooms with yellow ray flowers and a center of darker disc flowers up to 6 inches across. It blooms in early summer and has a deep tap root that helps it survive drought conditions. The plant spreads by seeds and forms clumps that can be divided when large enough. " Echinacea" is derived from the Greek word echinos which means sea-urchin or hedgehog, referring to the pointy cone found in the center of flowers in this genus. This plant can be used in the pollinator garden and looks best planted in at least groups of 3. They can be floppy and may need staked or plant with sturdier plants to help support them. The yellow will brighten up an area and looks great with pink, red or purple flowers such as bee balm or native grasses as little bluestem. It can also be used in meadows, prairies or naturalized areas. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious problems. Japanese beetle and leaf spot are occasional problems.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry
Available space
12 inches-3 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in. | Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect
Texture
Medium
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Lanceolate
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf size
> 6 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
4-8 in. smooth, lance-shaped, dark green leaves with linear veining. They become smaller as they ascend the stem.
Flower color
Brown/Copper; Gold/Yellow; Orange
Flower value
Fragrant; Good Cut; Showy
Flower form
Head
Flower shape
Radial
Flower size
3-6 inches
Flower detail
Early summer blooms have yellow ray flowers surrounding the brownish center disc flowers and are up to 6 inches across.
Bloom time
Summer
Fruit color
Brown/Copper; Cream/Tan
Fruit type
Achene
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
Tan to brown achenes with a narrowly oblong-angular shape and apices may have 4 tiny teeth. They are formed by the center disc flowers in summer to fall.
Stem color
Green
Stem detail
Stems are light green glabrous to sparsely covered with appressed-ascending hairs.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Origin
Central USA
Distribution
Arkansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas
Wildlife value
This plant supports Wavy-lined Emerald (Synchlora aerata) larvae. Attracts bees, butterflies and finches will eat the seeds