The biology and ecology of Echinacea species

Abstract

The nine Echinacea species are all long-lived perennials that inhabit temperate climate zones from the Great Plains of Canada to Texas and across the eastern half of the United States. They are found primarily in open, sunny habitats that may be rocky or have thin soil, as most species have roots that can snake around rocks to reach deeper strata of soil moisture. The most wide-ranging species, Echinacea angustifolia and E. pallida, are considered classic prairie wildflowers and are beautiful elements of the prairie landscape.