Echinacea laevigata aka Smooth Purple Coneflower

Echinacea laevigata belongs to the aster family. Its common name is smooth purple coneflower. This wildflower lives for more than one year. Its native range runs from Pennsylvania to the southeastern United States. It grows in the Piedmont of Virginia, the Carolinas, and Georgia. Wild plants grow on roadsides and open ground cleared by fire. NC State lists it as endangered under federal law. This is not an IUCN assessment.

Plants grow upright and shed their leaves for winter. RHS gives a garden height of 1.6–3.3 feet [0.5–1 metre]. NC State reports 3–5 feet [0.9–1.5 metres]. Spread reaches about 1.6 feet [0.5 metres]. Plants spread by seed and rhizomes, which are underground stems. Green basal leaves grow at the plant's base. They are lanceolate, or lance-shaped, with small teeth near their tips. Their tops feel rough, but their undersides are smooth. Smaller leaves grow in turn on each side of the stems. Wide gaps lie between them. The winged leaf stalks have a purple tint.

Flower heads open from May through August on upright stems. Long, narrow ray flowers hang down around a raised cone. The rays range from pale pink to purple. These shades contrast with the dark centre. Sources call the cone dark purple or reddish brown. The drooping rays give each head a loose, open shape. The disk flowers at the centre form dry, tan fruit called achenes. Each achene has four sides and is most often hairless.

Grow this species in full sun and soil that drains well. NC State says it can take some shade. RHS favours fertile soil rich in humus. NC State says plants can cope with poor soil once roots settle in. Keep new plants moist while their roots take hold. Once settled, plants cope with drought, heat, and humid weather. NC State favours neutral to alkaline soil. RHS lists a wider pH range. Hardiness ratings are USDA zones 3–8 and RHS H5. Seeds may take time to sprout and do so at different times. Take care when dividing plants or taking root cuttings. Plants dislike having their roots disturbed.

Use it in meadows, wildlife gardens, or groups in borders. RHS notes that few blooms can weaken its garden effect. The flowers also suit cutting. Native bees and honey bees visit for nectar. The plant hosts the young, or larvae, of the wavy-lined emerald moth. Finches and other birds eat seeds from heads left standing. Cut off spent heads to help more flowers grow. Leave some intact for birds and new seedlings. Pests and diseases cause few problems on the whole. Still, Japanese beetles and leaf spot can occur. The supplied sources do not say whether humans can eat it. Nor do they give evidence on whether it is toxic.