Tennesse Coneflower is a relatively slow-growing herbaceous perennial is in the Asteraceae family. It is only found in an area around Nashville and was once on the endangered list but has since been removed. " 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. Stems are topped with erect pink-purple ray flowers (many Echinacea's ray flowers bend backward) and bright orange disk cones from June to August. It will cross-pollinate with other Echinaceas. If you want to harvest and grow plants from seed it has to be planted several miles away from other Coneflowers plants as they will crossbreed and will not grow true to type. Tennesse Coneflower will grow in average moist to dry soils in full sun to part shade. Mass plant this perennial in a border, or let it naturalize in a meadow, or in a woodland garden. Pollinators will visit the flowers and finches will eat the seeds. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious problems. Japanese beetles are occasional pests. Leaf spot occurs rarely.
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)
Soil texture
Clay; Shallow Rocky
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry
Available space
12 inches-3 feet
Mature size
Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in. | Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Slow
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (1-3 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect
Texture
Medium
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate; Rosulate; Whorled
Leaf shape
Lanceolate; Linear
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Rough
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
It has hairy dark green lanceolate to linear leaves that form a basal whorl at the base and are 2-4.5 inches long and 1/2 inch wide. Stem leaves are smaller, sparser and alternate up the stem
Flower color
Orange; Pink; Purple/Lavender
Flower value
Good Cut; Good Dried; Long Bloom Season; Showy
Flower form
Head
Flower shape
Radial
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
Bright purple ray florets with a pointy cone of orange disk flowers in the center in summer.
Bloom time
Summer
Fruit color
Brown/Copper; Cream/Tan
Fruit type
Achene
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
Brown to tan achenes in summer to fall
Stem color
Gold/Yellow; Green
Stem detail
Yellow-green to light green, round, hairy stems
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Origin
Tennessee
Distribution
Tennesse
Wildlife value
This plant supports Wavy-lined Emerald (Synchlora aerata) larvae. Flowers attract birds and butterflies. Finches will eat the seeds.