Echinacea purpurea – Purple Coneflower Plug
Bold Pink-Purple Blooms | Long-Blooming Native for Sun & Pollinators
Make a statement in your garden with Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea), one of the most beloved and recognizable native perennials in North America. With its rosy-purple drooping petals surrounding a spiky, honey-brown cone, this sturdy, long-blooming plant is a magnet for bees, butterflies, and goldfinches from midsummer well into fall. This 2″ x 5″ planting plug will grow into a bold, upright clump that earns its place in nearly any sunny garden.
At a Glance:
- Bloom Time: June–September
- Height at Maturity: 3–4 feet
- Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade
- Soil Moisture: Dry to medium, well-drained
- Pollinator Magnet: Nectar source for bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds; seeds beloved by goldfinches and other songbirds
Planting Notes:
- Drought-tolerant once established; tolerates clay, poor soils, heat, and humidity
- Self-sows readily — leave seed heads standing through winter for birds and natural spread
- Deadheading prolongs bloom; skip deadheading in late season to feed birds and encourage reseeding
- Best planted in spring or fall; may bloom in its first season from plug size
Purple Coneflower is one of those rare plants that delivers for everyone — stunning summer color for the gardener, critical late-season nectar for pollinators, and seed-filled cones for overwintering birds. Long-lived, low-maintenance, and ecologically rich, it belongs in every native planting.
You can pre-order this plant online or purchase it in person during the Roberts PTO Native Plant Sale. Online orders will be available for pickup at any of the following sale events: Pickup will take place at Roberts Elementary near the playground.Ordering & Pickup Information
Native Plant Plugs – Affordable, Resilient, and Ready to Grow
Bring your landscape to life with native plants grown from seed in deep-rooted plugs. These young perennials may be small now, but they’re packed with potential—designed to establish quickly, support pollinators, and thrive in your local conditions.
Why Choose Plugs?
If you’re used to picking up gallon-size nursery pots, plugs may feel small—but here’s why they’re a smart investment:
- Stronger roots, less stress: Our deep plugs grow roots down, not around, so they take off fast when planted.
- Budget-friendly: Ideal for covering large areas or starting a garden on a budget.
- Locally adapted: These native plants are grown from seed and hardened off outdoors, so they’re ready to handle your climate.
What to Expect
Patience pays off! These are first-year perennials, so most will focus on root growth in year one, with blooming and full performance by year two or three—depending on the species and growing conditions.
You may see a few flowers in the first season, but the real show starts next year. Think of this as an investment in a long-lasting, low-maintenance landscape.
Planting & Care
- Prepare the soil: Remove weeds and loosen soil before planting.
- Plant deep: Bury the full plug so the crown is level with the soil.
- Water well: Keep moist for the first few weeks to help roots establish.
- Mulch lightly: Great for moisture retention and weed suppression—just keep mulch off the stem.
Designed for Pollinators. Built to Last.
Whether you're starting a meadow, filling a border, or restoring habitat, native plugs are the best way to build beauty that supports bees, butterflies, and birds—from the ground up.
