Echinacea pallida (Nutt.) Nutt.

Pale Purple Coneflower

Herb

Perennial

Vascular

Pale Purple Coneflower is a native herbaceous perennial in the Sunflower family (Asteraceae). It is native to west-central and northeast Alabama. Pale Purple Coneflower occurs in prairies, in open woodlands, and on cedar glades. It is a perennial with a branched taproot. Leaves are primarily basal. Leaves are petiolate, elliptic to lanceolate in outline, 3-5 nerved, with ciliate margins. The leaves are pubescent with spreading hairs. Flowers are produced in heads. The heads are usually solitary on elongate, pubescent, nearly leafless peduncles. Stem leaves are similar to the basal leaves but smaller in size. Each head has 8–21 reflexed pink to reddish purple ray flowers and 200–300 purple disc flowers. The pollen is usually white in color. The fruit is a 3- or 4-angled achene with a crown of short toothed pappi. Pale Purple Coneflower is listed as an S2 species in Alabama (typically 6 to 20 occurrences making it very vulnerable in the state) and Globally as a G4 species (imperiled globally because of rarity or very vulnerable to extinction throughout its range). Pale Purple Coneflower is available from some wildflower nurseries. It prefers a well-drained soil in full sun.—A. Diamond

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Native S2 (State Rank) G4 (Global Rank)

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