Coneflower

Echinacea, commonly known as coneflower, is a North American native genus that includes eleven taxa. One species, E. purpurea or the purple coneflower, is a very popular garden plant, and has been subject to intensive breeding efforts. Several other species are also cultivated for ornamental purposes, including E. angustifolia, the blacksamsom, E. pallida, the pale purple coneflower, and E. paradoxa, the Bush’s purple coneflower or yellow coneflower. Several of these taxa are also very popular in the medicinal plant trade. Habitat degradation and over collection from the wild threatens many of the taxa, most of which have been inadequately researched and sampled. There is evidence that most if not all of the taxa can be intercrossed, which potentially could lead to novel and superior forms for the horticultural trade. To date, this ability has not been exploited. Research is needed to determine the inheritance of such important traits as flower color, disease resistance, interspecific hybrid fertility, and pollen compatibility.