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First Impression: Echinacea angustifolia is a low maintenance but sturdy perennial. It’s distinct flower heads are an easy spot across its native lands of the upland dry prairies and gardens alike.

Habitat & Hardiness: Echinacea angustifolia is native to the upland mid-west prairies across the United States and into the Manitoba and Saskatchewan areas of Canada. It thrives along woodlands edges, prairies, plains, meadows, pastures and savannahs. It is considered hardy in the USDA zones of 3-8.

Plant Description: Similar to Echinacea pallida, Echinacea angustifolia is a unique plant both for its flower and its lanceeolate to ovate leaves that are 4-6″ long. The flowers get to be around 3″ in diameter featuring light pink to light purple rays spreading outward usually drooping. The center cones are an orange-brown blooming in the late spring and early summer though they can continue to sporadically bloom through the summer. In the fall and winter songbirds, especially goldfinches, are attracted to the seeds that form in the center cone.

Cultural & Maintenance Needs: E. angustifolia is an easy plant to take care of requiring low water, full sun and can adapt to a range of soil conditions including clay, loams and sandy mixes. Maintenance is also a breeze with it only needing to be divided if the plant becomes overcrowded. E. angustifolia usually reblooms without deadheading though doing so can improve appearance. There is also a chance of self-seeding if spent flower heads are left in place.

Though there are no serious insect or disease issues, Japanese beetles and leaf spots are occasional problems.

Landscape Uses: Echinacea angustifolia goes well in group or mass in borders, native plant gardens, naturalized areas, prairies or wildflower meadows.

Companion & Understudy Plants: Try pairing Echinacea angustifolia with other glade and prairie residents like Allium cernuum, Blephilia ciliata, Rudbeckia triloba, Liatris aspera, Andropogon virginicus, Schizachyrium scoparium, Silphium integrifolium and Achillea millefolium. In garden situations, horizontally rayed cultivars of Echinacea purpurea ‘Magnus’ could be substituted.