Jessie Keith
Family
Asteraceae
Botanical Name
Echinacea tennesseensis
Plant Common Name
Tennessee Coneflower
General Description
In the heat of summer, bright lavender pink daisies cover the pretty and wild Tennessee coneflower. This rare species is only native to the State of Tennessee and is on the United States Federal Endangered Species List. For this reason, the wild-type species is typically only available at specialty plant nurseries and seed suppliers.
This hardy herbaceous perennial wildflower is clump-forming and has linear, fuzzy green leaves. In summer it produces mauve-pink daisies with orange-brown central cones. The daisies are large and have long, thin, petals that curve upwards. The blooms are followed by brown, conical seedheads.
Tennessee coneflower needs full sun and soil with average fertility, ample drainage and even moisture. Well-established specimens can tolerate periods of drought. It is not as vigorous as other coneflowers and may prove to be short-lived. This is a wonderful wildflower for butterflies and is best enjoyed in sunny, informal flower gardens and naturalistic plantings. Birds relish its seeds in fall and winter.
The compact and more vigorous cultivar ‘Rocky Top’ is readily available in commerce.
Characteristics
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AHS Heat Zone
9 - 1
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USDA Hardiness Zone
3 - 9
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Plant Type
Perennial
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Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial Shade
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Height
2'-3' / 0.6m - 0.9m
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Width
1'-2' / 0.3m - 0.6m
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Bloom Time
Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer
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Native To
Southeastern United States
Ornamental Features
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Flower Interest
Showy
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Flower Color
Orange, Pink, Chocolate
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Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
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Foliage Color (Spring)
Green, Light Green
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Foliage Color (Summer)
Green
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Foliage Color (Fall)
Green
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Fragrant Flowers
Yes
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Fragrant Fruit
No
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Fragrant Foliage
No
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Bark or Stem Fragrant
No
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Flower Petal Number
Single
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Repeat Bloomer
Yes
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Showy Fruit
No
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Edible Fruit
No
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Showy Foliage
No
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Foliage Texture
Fine
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Foliage Sheen
Matte
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Evergreen
No
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Showy Bark
No
