Pale Purple Coneflower (Echinacea pallida)

Life history

Species overview

Pale Purple Coneflower (Echinacea pallida), a Wisconsin Threatened plant, is found in prairies and prairie remnants along roadsides and railroads. Blooming occurs early June through late July; fruiting occurs early July through late August. The optimal identification period for this species is early June through early August.

Synonyms: Brauneria pallida, Echinacea pallida var. pallida, Rudbeckia pallida

Identification

• Distinguishing characteristics: Distinguished from E. angustifolia by overall size, larger ray flowers and white (not yellow) pollen.
• Flower characteristics: Single showy flower head at the top of each stem, with many drooping, pale purple, petal-like ray flowers, each up to 3.5 in long; disk purplish-brown, broad, cone-shaped.
• Fruit characteristics: Cypselae tan or bicolored, 2.5 to 5 mm, faces more or less smooth, usually glabrous.
• Leaf characteristics: Rough-surfaced, up to 10 in long and 1.5 in wide, tapering at either end, with several paralel veins running along their lengths; basal leaves on long stalks; stem leaves few and usually lack long stalks.

Phenology

• Blooming phenology: early June through late July
• Fruiting phenology: early July through late August
• Optimum time to identify: The optimal identification period for this species is early June through early August

Other

• Growth form: Forb-erect
• Vegetative reproduction:
• Life cycle: Perennial
• Comments: Associated Species: Amorpha canescens, Andropogon gerardii, A. scoparius, Coreopsis palmata, Eryngium yuccifolium, Potentilla arguta, Silphium spp., Ratibida pinnata, Stipa spartea, Phlox pilosa, Asclepias hirtella.

State status

Status and Natural Heritage Inventory documented occurrences in Wisconsin

The table below provides information about the protected status - state and federal - and the rank (S and G Ranks) for Pale Purple Coneflower (Echinacea pallida). See the Working List Key for more information about abbreviations. Counties shaded blue have documented occurrences for this species in the Wisconsin Natural Heritage Inventory database. The map is provided as a general reference of where this species has been found to date and is not meant as a range map.

Habitats and landscapes

The Natural Heritage Inventory has developed scores indicating the degree to which each of Wisconsin's rare plant species is associated with a particular natural community or ecological landscape. This information is similar to that found in the Wildlife Action Plan for animals. As this is a work in progress, we welcome your suggestions and feedback.

General habitat information

• Habitat description: Found in prairies and prairie remnants along roadsides and railroads.
• Soils: Dry, mesic soils.

Natural communities

This table lists the natural communities that are associated with Pale Purple Coneflower. Scores for natural community associations are: "significant" association (score=3), "moderate association" (score=2) or the species can be present but is only weakly associated with the community (score=1).

Ecological landscapes

This table lists the ecological landscape association scores for Pale Purple Coneflower. The scores (3=High, 2=Moderate, 1=Low, 0=None) also correspond to the map.

Species guidance

The Endangered Resources Program has developed avoidance measures and management guidelines for plants on the Natural Heritage Working List. These are a work in progress, and we welcome your suggestions and feedback. Sources used in developing this information can be found here.

Avoidance measures

These are specific actions designed to avoid "take" (mortality) of this species.

• Avoid broadcast spraying of herbicides; use care with spot spraying.
• Avoid known individual plant locations and conduct operations elsewhere when they are least likely to cause damage. Ideally, this would involve frozen, snow-covered ground. However, in areas of the state where frozen conditions are unreliable, very dry soils late in the growing season might be the best available alternative. Consult with a biologist, if needed.

Management guidance

Management guidelines are additional considerations that may help maintain or enhance habitat for this species

• Prescribed burns and/or brushing may be beneficial (dependent on local site conditions).
• Maintain and restore open habitat through selective clearing and brushing.

Other resources

Links to additional Pale Purple Coneflower information

• Grassland and Savanna Protocols

Other links related to vascular plants (all exit the DNR website)

• Wisconsin Flora
• NatureServe Explorer
• Atlas of Wisconsin Prairie and Savanna Flora - Wisconsin State Herbarium
• USDA - NRCS Plants Database
• USGS Midwestern Wetland Flora - field office guide to plant species
• eFloras
• Cofrin Center for Biodiversity Herbarium
• Intermountain Herbarium Grasses of North America
• Orchids of Wisconsin

Photos

Click to view a larger version. Please considering donating a photo to the Natural Heritage Conservation Program for educational uses. Photo use