Echinacea - Purple Coneflower

Common Names
Echinacea, Coneflower, Purple Coneflower
Botanical Name
Echinacea purpurea
Plant Family
Asteraceae (Daisy Family)
Native Range
Eastern Canada and US
Life Cycle
Perennial
Hardiness Zone
3-10
Habit
Clump-forming herbaceous perennial to about 3.5 feet tall. Showy pink-purple flowers.
Sun/Soil
Echinacea enjoys the dappled shade found in meadows and prairies. In the garden it does well in most soils, and will be quite drought tolerant once established. 
Germination/Sowing
Seeds germinate easily when started in flats in spring and then transplanted out once the seedlings are big enough and the soil has warmed. 
Growing/Care
They require regular waterings during the dry season. The plants can be cut back to the ground in the fall time.
Harvesting
Both the flower heads and the roots are medicinally valuable. The flowers can be collected as they open during the summer months. The root is best harvested after the second or third year in the fall.