Echinacea Moench (Asteraceae)
Echinacea is represented by three or four species in North Carolina. Echinacea laevigata (C.L. Boynton & Beadle) S.F. Blake is federally listed (Fed T, S1S2 G2G3). Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench (State SR-O, S1 G4) was delisted at the state level in 2021, but continues to be tracked by the Natural Heritage Program, along with E. pallida (State SR-D, S1 G4).
Federally listed taxon—
Echinacea laevigata (Fed T, State T | S1S2 G2G3)
Habitat. Glades and woodlands over mafic or calcareous substrates. Associates include
Silphium terebinthinaceum Jacq., Solidago ptarmicoides (Torr. & A. Gray) B. Boivin, S. rigida L.
var. glabrata E.L. Braun, Liatris squarrosa (L.) Michx., and L. squarrulosa Michx.
Range. Eastern US, historically from Arkansas to Pennyslvania, but no longer extant in those two states.
Additional resources. NHP | Recovery plan
Key to Echinacea in North Carolina
Key adapted from Binns et al. (2002), Urbatsch et al. (2006 [FNA]), and Weakley (2008). Photos by Krings, unless otherwise indicated. Maps courtesy of USDA PLANTS and the North Carolina Natural Heritage Program.
1. Leaves lanceolate to ovate, the larger > 5 cm wide...2.
2. Leaves glabrous on both sides, or scabrous above; receptacle bracts (paleae) 7–12 mm long, awns about a fourth the length of the entire bract...E. laevigata* 
Habitat of Echinacea laevigata (Photo: Krings)
Basal leaves of Echinacea laevigata (Photo: Krings)
Stem closeup of Echinacea laevigata (Photo: Krings)
Closeup of Echinacea laevigata stem and leaves (Photo: Krings)
Echinacea laevigata (Photo: Krings)
Echinacea laevigata (Photo: Krings)
Echinacea laevigata (Photo: Krings)
Echinacea laevigata*
(rare [Fed T, S1S2 G2G3]; glades and woodlands over mafic or calcareous substrates; Pd; summer to fall)
2'. Leaves pubescent or scabrous on both sides; receptacle bracts (paleae) 9–15 mm long, awns about half the length of the entire bract...E. purpurea
Echinacea purpurea (Photo: Krings)
Echinacea purpurea (Photo: Krings)
Echinacea purpurea (Photo: Krings)
Echinacea purpurea (Photo: Krings)
Echinacea purpurea (Photo: Krings)
Echinacea purpurea (Photo: Krings)
Echinacea purpurea (Photo: Krings)
Echinacea purpurea
(rare [State SR-O, S1 G4]; roadsides and woodlands, sometimes spreading from cultivation; Mt, Pd)
1'. Leaves lanceolate to linear, the larger < 5 cm wide...3.
3. Fresh pollen white...E. pallida
Narrow leaves of Echinacea pallida (Photo: Krings)
Narrow leaf of Echinacea pallida (Photo: Krings)
Abaxial leaf surface of Echinacea pallida (Photo: Krings)
Echinacea pallida (Photo: Krings)
Echinacea pallida (Photo: Krings)
Echinacea pallida (Photo: Krings)
Flowers of Echinacea pallida; note the white fresh pollen (Photo: Krings)
Echinacea pallida
(rare [SR-D, S1 G4; perhaps introduced? Additional study needed]; roadsides; Pd, Mt)
See note under
E. simulata.
3'. Fresh pollen pale to bright yellow...E. simulata
Habit of
Echinacea simulata (Photo: S.J. Baskauf CC NC-SA 3.0,
Biomages)
Stem of
Echinacea simulata (Photo: S.J. Baskauf CC NC-SA 3.0,
Biomages)
Leaves of
Echinacea simulata (Photo: S.J. Baskauf CC NC-SA 3.0,
Biomages)
Leaves of
Echinacea simulata (Photo: S.J. Baskauf CC NC-SA 3.0,
Biomages)
Flowers of
Echinacea simulata; note the yellow fresh pollen (Photo: S.J. Baskauf CC NC-SA 3.0,
Biomages)
Flowers of
Echinacea simulata; note the yellow fresh pollen (Photo: S.J. Baskauf CC NC-SA 3.0,
Biomages)
Flowers of
Echinacea simulata (Photo: S.J. Baskauf CC NC-SA 3.0,
Biomages)
(rare [or absent?]; roadsides and prairies; Pd?)
Urbatsch et al. (
Flora North America, vol. 21) regarded this species as absent in North Carolina, however, Weakley (
Flora of the southern and mid-Atlantic states, 2012) considered that many eastern populations referred to
E. pallida may in fact be
E. simulata. Currently, the NC Natural Heritage Program refers populations of narrow leaved
Echinacea in the state to
E. pallida (see above). Both species are treated in the present work to facilitate resolution of the distribution of these taxa.
