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| ## prairie coneflower {#prairie-coneflower .Title-Header}             |
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| *Ratibida columnifera* (Nutt.) Woot. & Standl.                        |
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| Plant Symbol = RACO3                                                  |
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Contributed by: USDA NRCS Bridger Plant Materials Center

![](media/image2.jpeg){width="2.7916666666666665in"
height="1.8527777777777779in"}

**Alternate Names**

Upright prairie coneflower, yellow coneflower, long headed coneflower,
columnar prairie coneflower, Mexican hat

##### Uses {#uses .Header-3}

*Grazing*: Prairie coneflower is palatable and nutritious to all classes
of domestic livestock when utilized in early stage of plant growth and
development. It is considered a desirable spring browse plant for big
game animals, and the seed of prairie coneflower is preferred by several
species of upland birds and small mammals.

*Restoration*: Prairie coneflower is a medium to tall-statured forb that
may fill a structural cover and nesting niche for multiple species of
upland birds in a variety of plant community types. A more diverse
native plant community will be attained when this species is included in
native seed mixes for the rehabilitation of such disturbed sites as
rangelands, minelands, roadsides, park and restoration areas, prairie
restoration projects, and conservation plantings in accordance with
government farm bill program requirements.

*Landscape:* Prairie coneflower is commonly recommended as an ornamental
wildflower in pollinator friendly, low maintenance, or natural
landscapes.

*Ethnobotanic:* Native peoples utilized a decoction of leaves and stems
to treat pain, poison ivy rash, and rattlesnake bites. An infusion was
made from plant tops to treat headache, stomachache, cough, fever,
epileptic fits, and to induce vomiting. A medicinal or beverage-type tea
was made from the ripened flower heads and leaves. An orange-yellow dye
was produced from boiled flowers.

##### Status {#status .Header-3}

Please consult the PLANTS Web site and your State Department of Natural
Resources for this plant's current status (e.g. threatened or endangered
species, state noxious status, and wetland indicator values).

##### Description and Adaptation {#description-and-adaptation .Header-3}

Prairie coneflower is a native, late-season, herbaceous perennial in the
Aster Family. It usually has a taproot and grows upright from a woody
base to a height of 12 to 24 inches (30 to 60 cm). The numerous, pinnate
leaves are deeply cut into linear or lance-shaped segments along
alternately branched stems. Showy yellow ray flowers droop and surround
the columnar-shaped, brown, central disk. Occasionally, the ray flowers
are reddish-brown in color. The flowers tend to bloom from late June
until August, with seed ripening completed in early August to September.
The mature seedhead has a pleasant odor when crushed that is similar to
anise or licorice. The fruit is a 1-seeded, gray-black achene.

Prairie coneflower is a native, drought-tolerant wildflower of the Great
Plains that is commonly found from south central Canada to northern
Mexico, and west from Manitoba and Minnesota to southeastern Idaho. It
prefers to grow in the dry, open spaces of prairie grasslands and
mountain foothills and is found along roadsides, in waste and disturbed
areas, and along railroad rights-of-way. Prairie coneflower does well on
a variety of soil types, including loams and rocky to gravelly-sandy
textures. It tolerates a pH range from slightly acidic to moderately
alkaline and weak saline soils, in areas receiving 10 to 30 inches (254
to 762 mm) of annual precipitation. Prairie coneflower attains optimum
growth in full sun and low to moderate levels of competition within a
native plant community. This plant is a common component of such
ecological sites as shallow, silty, shallow to gravel, and silty steep.
Associated species include western wheatgrass, bluebunch wheatgrass,
prairie Junegrass, Sandberg bluegrass, common gaillardia, white and
purple prairie clover, big sagebrush, and western yarrow.

For a current distribution map, please consult the Plant Profile page
for this species on the PLANTS Website.

##### Establishment {#establishment .Header-3}

Seed should be planted into a firm, weed-free seedbed, preferably with a
drill that will ensure uniform seed placement depth of ¼ to ½ inch (6 to
12 mm). The processed seed of prairie coneflower has approximately
600,000 seeds/lb (1,320,000 seeds/kg). The full seeding rate is 2
lb/acre (2.2 kg/ha) pure-live-seed (PLS), but it would seldom be seeded
in a pure stand. It is recommended that prairie coneflower be included
as a component of a native seed mixture at a rate of ¼ to ½ lb/acre (0.3
to 0.6 kg/ha). When used in a mix adjust the seeding rate to the desired
percentage of mix. Spring seeding is preferred over a dormant, fall
planting date. Periodic mowing during the establishment year is one
option for weed suppression.

##### Seed Production {#seed-production .Header-3}

Seed production fields should be established in rows at 25 PLS per
linear foot of row (82 per linear meter of row). Between-row spacing is
dependent on the type of planting and cultivation equipment, and ranges
from 24 to 36 inches (60 to 90 cm). Adequate between-row space should be
provided to perform mechanical cultivation. At 24-inch row spacing, the
recommended seeding rate is 1 PLS lb/acre (1.1 kg/ha), and at 30- and
36-inch row spacing, the seeding rate is 0.7 and 0.6 PLS lb/acre (0.8
and 0.7 kg/ha), respectively. There are presently no herbicides
specifically labeled to control weeds in seed production fields. Seed
harvest of prairies coneflower is effective by several methods such as
swathing and combining or direct-combining. Direct-combining should take
place when the seed has just begun to shatter from the very top of the
ripened conehead. Processing of the seed works well over a 2- to
3-screen fanning mill with final cleaning over an indent cylinder or
gravity table. Seed production of 300 to 500 lb/acre (336 to 560 kg/ha)
can be expected under irrigated conditions. Seed production stands may
remain productive for only 3 years (2 seed crops). Seed viability is
very high and longevity can be expected for 5 to 8 years when stored at
moderate temperatures and low humidity.

##### Management {#management .Header-3}

Growth of prairie coneflower begins in mid spring and flowers begin to
appear in early summer. Excessive competition from other species may
require removal to promote prairie coneflower establishment and
longevity. Livestock grazing and wildlife browsing should be limited to
avoid over-utilization during the active growing season.

##### Pests and Potential Problems {#pests-and-potential-problems .Header-3}

There are no major insect or disease pests of prairie coneflower. Stands
can be reduced by powdery mildew and root and crown rot organisms.

##### Environmental Concerns {#environmental-concerns .Header-3}

Prairie coneflower will establish relatively quickly via seed
distribution. It is not considered weedy, but often finds its way into
adjacent vegetative communities. Prairie coneflower coexists with other
species and adds biodiversity to a variety of native plant communities.

##### Cultivars, Improved, and Selected Materials (and area of origin) {#cultivars-improved-and-selected-materials-and-area-of-origin .Header-3}

Stillwater Germplasm was released in 2004 from the Bridger Plant
Materials Center. It is a selected class release of prairie coneflower
that is a composite of five accessions collected from native stands in
Montana. The five accessions were selected because of their consistent
taller stature, uniformity in seed maturity dates, and superior seed
production.

G~1~ seed (analogous to foundation seed) is produced at the Bridger PMC
and made available to commercial growers through the Montana Foundation
Seed Program at Montana State University-Bozeman and the University of
Wyoming Foundation Seed Service at Powell, Wyoming. One generation (G~2~
equivalent to certified) beyond G~1~ is recognized.

##### Prepared By & Species Coordinator:  {#prepared-by-species-coordinator .Header-3}

*Susan R. Winslow*

USDA NRCS Bridger Plant Materials Center, Bridger, Montana

##### Edited: 24jan06 jsp; 060816 jsp {#edited-24jan06-jsp-060816-jsp .Header-4}

For more information about this and other plants, please contact your
local NRCS field office or Conservation District, and visit the PLANTS
Web site\<[http://plants.usda.gov](http://plants.usda.gov/)\> or the
Plant Materials Program Web site
\<[http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov](http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov/)\>

*The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in
all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national
origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual
orientation, and marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases
apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require
alternative means for communication of program information (Braille,
large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA\'s [TARGET
Center](http://www.usda.gov/oo/target.htm) at 202-720-2600 (voice and
TDD).*

*To file a complaint of discrimination write USDA, Director, Office of
Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence
Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call 202-720-5964 (voice or
TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.*

*Read about [Civil Rights at the Natural Resources Convervation
Service](http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/about/civilrights/).*