purple coneflower

noun

: any of a North American genus (Echinacea, especially E. purpurea) of coarse perennial composite herbs with thick rough leaves and long-stalked flower heads having purplish-brown cone-shaped disks and usually pink to purplish rays

Examples of purple coneflower in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Plant it alongside garden phlox and purple coneflower for a pleasing contrast of shapes and textures. —Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 May 2026

For summer-flowering perennials that provide plenty of nectar, consider rudbeckia, purple coneflower, bee balm, milkweed and penstemon, as well as some non-native plants such as catmint and lavender. —Beth Botts, Chicago Tribune, 23 May 2026

Deadhead purple coneflowers to encourage new growth. —Steve Bender, Southern Living, 12 May 2026

For seed-eating birds like goldfinches, chickadees and pine siskins, narrowleaf purple coneflower (Echinacea angustifolia), black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) and sunflowers (Helianthus annuus) provide nutritious seeds that persist into fall and winter. —Special To The Denver Post, Denver Post, 12 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1848, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for purple coneflower

• airpower
• brainpower
• devour
• empower
• firepower
• horsepower
• manpower
• mayflower
• safflower
• sunflower
• wallflower
• watchtower

Medical Definition

purple coneflower

noun

purple cone·​flow·​er -ˈkōn-ˌflau̇(-ə)r 

: any of three composite herbs (Echinacea purpurea, E. pallida, and E. angustifolia) which have usually reddish purple to pale pink ray flowers and whose various parts (as the dried rhizome, stems, or leaves) are used in the preparation of the dietary supplement echinacea