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| ##                                                                    |
|  Eastern purple coneflower {#eastern-purple-coneflower .Title-Header} |
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| *Echinacea purpurea* (L.) Moench.                                     |
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| Plant Symbol = ECPU                                                   |
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###### *Contributed By: USDA NRCS National Plant Data Center*

##### Alternative Names

echinacea, snakeroot, Kansas snakeroot, narrow-leaved purple coneflower,
scurvy root, Indian head, comb flower, black susans, and hedge hog

##### Uses 

*Ethnobotanic*: Purple coneflower (*Echinacea purpurea*) was and still
is a widely used medicinal plant of the Plains Indians. It was used as a
painkiller and for a variety of ailments, including toothache, coughs,
colds, sore throats, and snake bite (Kindscher 1992). The Choctaw use
purple coneflower as a cough medicine and gastro-intestinal aid (Moerman
1986). The Delaware used an infusion of coneflower root for gonorrhea
and found it to be highly effective.

The purple coneflower was the only native prairie plant popularized as a
medicine by folk practitioners and doctors. It was used extensively as a
folk remedy (Kindscher 1992). Purple coneflower root was used by early
settlers as an aid in nearly every kind of sickness. If a cow or a horse
did not eat well, people administered *Echinacea* in its feed.

*Echinacea* is widely used as an herbal remedy today. A purple
coneflower product containing the juice of the fresh aerial parts of
*Echinacea purpurea* was found to make mouse cells 50-80 percent
resistant to influenza, herpes, and vesicular somatitis viruses. This
product was available in Germany in 1978 (Wacker and Hilbig 1978).
Perhaps the most important finding so far is the discovery of
immuno-stimulatory properties in *Echinacea purpurea* and *E.
angustifolia* (Wagner and Proksch 1985, Wagner et al. 1985). Stimulation
of the immune system appears to be strongly influenced by dose level.
Recent pharmacological studies indicate that a 10-mg/kg daily dose of
the polysaccharide over a ten-day period is effective as an
immuno-stimulant. Increases in the daily dosage beyond this level,
however, resulted in "markedly decreased pharmacological activity"
(Wagner and Proksch 1985, Wagner et al. 1985). Other research has shown
that the purple coneflower produces an anti-inflammatory effect and has
therapeutic value in urology, gynecology, internal medicine, and
dermatology (Wagner and Proksch
1985).![](media/image2.jpeg){width="2.6034722222222224in"
height="3.948611111111111in"}

*Ornamental*: The purple coneflower is often grown simply for its
ornamental value, especially for its showy flowers. The best possibility
for obtaining a new cultivar is in the hybrids between *Echinacea
purpurea* and *E. angustifolia* var. *angustifolia*, whose progeny are
compact, rounded, and bushy plants about two feet in diameter
(M^c^Gregor 1968).

##### Status

Please consult the PLANTS Web site and your State Department of Natural
Resources for this plant's current status, such as, state noxious status
and wetland indicator values.

##### Description

*General*: Sunflower Family (Asteraceae). *Echinacea purpurea* is a
perennial herb 1.5-6 dm (0.5-2 ft) tall, with a woody rhizome or tough
caudex. The plant has one to several rough-hairy stems, mostly
unbranched. Basal and lower cauline leaf blades are ovate to
ovate-lanceolate with serrate edges, up to 2 dm long and 1.5 dm wide,
and slightly heart-shaped at the base. Cauline leaves are similar but
become smaller as they extend up the stem. The flowers are in heads like
sunflowers with the disk up to 3.5 cm across. The drooping ray florets
have ligules 3-8 cm long, and are reddish-purple, lavender, or rarely
pink. The disk florets are 4.5-5.5 mm long, and are situated among stiff
bracts. Flowers bloom from June to August. Pollen grains are yellow.
Fruits are small, dark, 4-angled achenes.

##### Distribution

The purple coneflower grows in rocky prairie sites in open, wooded
regions*. Echinacea purpurea* extends eastward through the Great Plains
bioregion from northeast Texas, Missouri, and Michigan. For current
distribution, please consult the Plant Profile page for this species on
the PLANTS Web site.

##### Establishment

Native *Echinacea* species are dwindling in the wild from loss of
habitat and over-harvesting. *E. purpurea* is not as threatened as *E.
angustifolia*. In the wild, *E. purpurea* grows sporadically along
waterways, with a few scattered individuals. Plant densities are too low
for efficient harvest for commercial purposes. *E. purpurea* is the most
widely adaptable species for cultivation. It is cold and heat hardy,
easy to grow, and boasts high yields. Bioactive constituents *of E.
purpurea* compare favorably with *E. angustifolia*, although there are
proportional differences. *E. angustifolia* has more of the alkylamides,
while *E. purpurea* has more of the equally immune enhancing caffeic
acid derivatives. They are both effective medicines. A combination of
both probably affords the most broad-spectrum immune-enhancing effect.
Historically*, E. purpurea* was rarely utilized by pharmaceutical
companies.

It takes three to four years for roots to reach harvestable size (Foster
1991). Yields for cultivated, dried roots of three-year-old *Echinacea
purpurea* grown at Trout Lake, Washington, were 131 kg/ha (1,200
lbs/acre) (Foster 1991). According to Richo Cech (1995), a mature
two-year old *E. purpurea* plant yields 2.25 pounds of fresh flowering
aerial portions and 0.5 pounds of fresh root per plant.

###### Propagation from Cuttings

Purple coneflower can be propagated by division of the crowns. This
technique results in stronger plants initially and eliminates the
tedious nurturing and tending of the slow-growing seedlings (Kindscher
1992). Harvest roots when plants are dormant, when leaves begin to turn
brown. Wash roots and remove most for use. Then carefully divide the
crown by hand to make one to five "plantlets." Replant the divisions as
soon as possible. It is important that they don't dry out, so if
replanting is delayed a couple of hours, dip the plants briefly in water
and keep them in a sealed plastic bag in a cool, shady place until you
are ready to replant them. When replanting, ensure that the remaining
fine roots are well spread out in the planting hole and the soil is
pressed firmly around the plant. These plantlets can be grown in flats
in the greenhouse during the winter to re-establish their root systems,
then replanted in the field the following spring for another round of
production.

###### Seed Propagation

-   *Echinacea purpurea* seed is easy to germinate. The following
    information is provided by Richo Cech (1995).

-   The seed can be spring-planted without cold, or cold stratification,
    to germinate.

-   Propagation is easily done in flats, which are sown with
    approximately ¼ ounce of seed per flat, evenly sprinkled on the
    surface and covered with about ¼ inch of potting soil.

-   The flats are left outdoors through the winter and watered if
    necessary.

-   A light screen over the flats will diminish the severity of heavy
    rain and snow, and will also keep out cats.

-   Spring germination can be greatly enhanced by bringing the flat of
    cold-conditioned seed into the greenhouse, whereupon rapid
    germination may be expected.

-   Once the second set of true leaves appears, the seedlings are put
    into pots or are spaced at approximately two inch centers in another
    deep flat. Seedlings must be carefully weeded and watered.

-   In late spring or early summer, the hardy seedlings, now with a
    four-to-six inch root system, may be transplanted into the field or
    garden one or two feet apart.

-   Regular spacing with one foot between the plants and two feet
    between the rows will result in approximately 21, 800 plants per
    acre. A generous two-foot spacing with three feet between the rows
    will result in approximately 7,500 plants per acre.

-   Timely watering during dry periods greatly increases the size of
    this plant. A sparing side dressing of organic compost, usually in
    the mid-spring, will assist this sometimes slow-growing herbaceous
    perennial in outranking competitive weeds.

An ounce of well-cleaned *E. purpurea* seed contains approximately 6,000
seeds. A pound contains around 96,000 seeds. Given a normal spacing of
one foot between the plants and two feet between the rows, an acre would
contain 21,800 plants. Given a 68% germination rate, a pound of good
seed could produce three acres of plants. This same acre, dormant
harvested for the roots at the end of the second year of growth, would
produce (at 1/2 lb. per root) 10,900 lbs of fresh root.

###### Harvesting and Processing the Seed

-   Seed can be harvested during the fall of the second year. Harvest
    the seed in autumn when seeds are ripe, before the fall rains set
    in. Seed should be from the largest and most vital plants.

-   Stop watering when the seeds begin to mature -- excessive watering
    at this stage is not needed and it may damage the seed crop.

-   Snip the cone-heads off and put them in buckets. If the seed is
    still a little green, dry the cone-heads in the sun.

-   Separate the seed from the chaffy debris. It is important to break
    up the cone-heads without damaging the seed. Run the seed through a
    hammer mill or compost chopper at low RPM through a one-inch screen.
    Then pass the seed and chaff through a ¼ inch stationary screen.
    Shake the remaining seed and chaff through a screen that is too
    small for the seed to pass. What you have left is the seed with only
    the chaff that is the same size as the seed.

-   Lay out a flannel sheet and pour a cupful of the seed/chaff along
    the edge. Lift the top edge of the sheet and roll the seed to the
    other end where your partner is waiting to carefully funnel the seed
    into a bowl.

-   Make sure the seed is thoroughly dry. Store in plastic bags in a
    cool, dry, and dark place. Plastic bags allow the seed to respire,
    while glass does not. Seed thus stored remains viable for about
    three years.

##### Management

Herbivores, such as insects and deer, are not a problem with
*Echinacea*. Gophers and moles can be a problem as they eat the roots.
Goldfinches love the *Echinacea* seed crop and can clear out all the
seed in a few days.

##### Cultivars, Improved and Selected Materials (and area of origin)

ECPU is widely available through most nurseries and seed companies.
Contact your local Natural Resources Conservation Service (formerly Soil
Conservation Service) office for more information. Look in the phone
book under "United States Government." The Natural Resources
Conservation Service will be listed under the subheading "Department of
Agriculture."

*Cultivars*: King, Sombrero, Alba, Bright Star Leuchste, Crimson Star,
Magnus, Ovation, Springbrook's Crimson Star, Talent, Thompson and Morgan
Hybrids, White Flower Farm Strain, White Lustre, and White Swan.

##### References

Cech, R.A. 1995. *Echinacea Native American tonic roots*. A Horizon
Herbs Publication, Williams, Oregon.

Foster, S. 1991. *Echinacea -- nature's immune enhancer*. Healing Arts
Press, Rochester, Vermont.

Gilmore, M. 1977. *Uses of the plants by the Indians of the Missouri
River region*. University of Nebraska Press, Lincoln, Nebraska.

Hart, J.A. 1976. *Montana: Native plants and early peoples*. Montana
Historical Society, Helena, Montana.

Hartmann, H. T., D. E. Kester, & F. T. Davies, Jr. 1990*. Plant
propagation principles and practices*. Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs,
New Jersey. 647 pp.

Hutchens, A.R. 1991. *Indian herbalogy of North America*. Shambhala,
Boston and London. pp. 113-117.

Isaacson, R. T. 1993. *Anderson horticultural library\'s source list of
plants and seeds*. Anderson Horticultural Library, University of
Minnesota Libraries. Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. 261 pp.

Kinscher, K. 1992. *Medicinal wild plants of the prairie. An
ethnobotanical guide*. University Press of Kansas. Pp. 84-94.

Martin, A.C., H. S. Zim, & A.L. Nelson 1951*. American wildlife and
plants. A guide to wildlife food habits*. Dover Publications, Inc., New
York, New York. 500 pp.

M^c^Gregor, R.L. T.M. Barkley, R.E. Brooks, & E.K. Schofield (eds.)
1991. *Flora of the Great Plains*. University Press of Kansas. 1402 pp.

M^c^Gregor, R.L. 1968. *The taxonomy of the genus Echinacea
(Compositae)*. University of Kansas Science Bulletin 48(4):113-142.

Michigan State University Extension 1996. *Home horticulture: Echinacea
purpurea*. Version: 000327.
\<http://www.msue.msu.edu/msue/imp/mod03/01700365.html\>.

Moerman, D.E. 1986. *Medicinal plants of Native America*. Research
Reports in Ethnobotany, Contribution 2. Technical Reports, Number 19,
University of Michigan Museum of Anthropology, Ann Arbor, Michigan. Pp.
156-158.

Texas A&M University 1999. *TAMU-BWG digital library - vascular plant
images*. Version: 000327.
\<http://www.csdl.tamu.edu/FLORA/cgi/gallery_query?q=Echinacea+purpurea\>.
Bioinformatics Working Group, College Station, Texas.

Voaden, D.J. & M. Jacobson 1972. *Tumor inhibitors 3. Identification and
synthesis of an oncolytic hydrocarbon from American coneflower roots*.
Journal of Medicinal Chemistry 15(6):619-623.

Wagner, H. & A. Proksch 1985. *Immunostimulatory drugs of fungi and
higher plants*. IN: (H. Wagner et al. Eds.) *Economic and medicinal
plant research*. Vol. 1. Academic Press, New York, New York. Pp.113-153

Wagner, H., A. Proksche, I. Riess-Mauere, A. Vollmar, S. Odenthal, H.
Stuppner, K. Jurcie, M. Le Turdu, & J.N. Fang 1985. *Immunstimulierend
wirkende polysaccharide (heteroglykane) aus hoheren pflanzen.*
Arzneimittel-Forschung 35(8):1069-1075.

##### Prepared By

###### *Michelle Stevens*

Formerly USDA, NRCS, National Plant Data Center

##### Species Coordinator

###### *M. Kat Anderson*

USDA, NRCS, National Plant Data Center

c/o Plant Science Department, University of California, Davis,
California

Edited 05dec00 jsp; 13may03 ahv; 05jun06 jsp

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/)\>

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