Ratibida pinnata (Vent.) Barnhart

Pinnate Prairie Coneflower; Globular Prairie Coneflower; Gray Head Mexican Hat

Herb

Perennial

Vascular

Prairie Coneflower is an herbaceous perennial member of the Sunflower family (Asteraceae). It is a common and conspicuous element of the prairie ecosystem. It Alabama it occurs in the Black Belt region and the Tennessee Valley on prairies, cedar glades, and chalk outcrops. Prairie Coneflower has a short creeping rhizome at or just beneath the soil surface. The basal leaves are larger than the stem leaves, and are petiolate, pubescent, and gland-dotted. They are pinnately divided into three to seven lanceolate to ovate lobes. Stems are 1 or more from each root stock. The stems are 2-3 feet in height, green in color, and pubescent. The stem leaves are alternate and become increasingly smaller up the stem. The lower stem leaves are similar to the basal leaves and the upper most ones are un-lobed. The flowers are produced in heads at the apex of the stems. Each head has up to thirteen drooping yellow ray flowers. The disc flowers are purple-brown and arranged in a dense column. The achenes (fruit) are dark grey. When crushed, the seed heads release an anise scent. Prairie Coneflower is often available in nurseries, or plants can be grown from seed. It flowers throughout the summer months, and makes an excellent cut flower for arrangements. Prairie Coneflower can be used in the perennial bed or can be naturalized in meadows or open woodlands. It is very drought tolerant once established, and thrives in dry clay soils in full sun. The larvae of the Silvery Checkerspot Butterfly (Chlosyne nycteis) feed on the foliage of Prairie Coneflower.--A. Diamond

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Native G5 (Global Rank)

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