Ratibida pinnata (grey-headed coneflower)

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Ratibida pinnata

grey-headed coneflower

Asteraceae central and eastern North America

Attracts Pollinators Attracts Butterflies Drought Tolerant

Native to North America

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterLow · drought-tolerant

HardinessZones 3–8

Overview

Ratibida pinnata, gray-headed or yellow prairie coneflower, is a tall herbaceous perennial in the sunflower family native to the central and eastern North American prairies. It grows 3-5 feet (90-150 cm) tall on slender, branching stems from a deep taproot, forming an upright clump 18-24 inches (45-60 cm) wide. The lower leaves are deeply cut into narrow lobes and roughly hairy, becoming smaller up the stem. In summer the stems carry flower heads with a raised gray-brown central disk 0.5-1 inch (12-25 mm) long, ringed by 6-13 drooping yellow ray florets that hang back from the cone. The disk turns brown and smells of anise when crushed, which gives the seed heads a faint scent. Goldfinches and other birds feed on the ripe seed. The plant grows in tallgrass prairie, open glades, and roadsides on a range of soils, and withstands heat and drought once its taproot is set. Tall stems can lean in rich soil or in part shade, and the deep root makes established plants slow to move.

Native Range

Native to central and eastern North America, from Ontario and New York west to the Dakotas and south to Georgia, Oklahoma, and Texas. It grows in tallgrass prairie, dry open woods, glades, and along roadsides and railways.

Suggested Uses

Used in prairie and meadow plantings, native and pollinator gardens, and the middle to back of sunny borders. Suited to dry banks, roadside plantings, and restoration of tallgrass prairie.

How to Identify

Recognized by tall branching stems, deeply cut lower leaves, and flower heads with a tall gray-brown central cone ringed by drooping yellow rays. The elongated gray disk and the anise smell of the crushed cone separate it from Echinacea spp. coneflowers, which have shorter, dome-shaped disks, and from black-eyed Susans, which hold their rays outward.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height3' - 5'

Width/Spread1'6" - 2'

Colors

Flower Colors

yellow

Foliage Colors

green

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~6 weeks

Summer

Blooms from June to August, with peak flowering in midsummer. Individual plants stay in flower for 4-6 weeks as new heads open along the branches. Seed heads ripen in late summer and hold seed into fall for foraging birds.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

yellow with gray-brown disk

Foliage Description

green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 6-12 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range6.0 - 8.0(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

loam clay sand rocky

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Low

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

2-3 years from seed

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Grows in full sun on well-drained loam, clay, sandy, or rocky soils, including poor and dry ground. Established plants need little water and tolerate heat and drought, though they accept occasional watering. Propagation is by seed, which germinates better after cold, moist stratification, sown in fall or early spring. Plants self-sow where soil is open and reach flowering size in their second or third year. Few pests trouble it. Rich soil and shade make stems tall and floppy, so leaner soil and full sun keep them upright.

Pruning

Cut spent stems back after flowering, or leave the seed heads standing for birds and winter interest and cut them in late winter. Shearing plants by one-third in late spring produces shorter, sturdier stems. Dividing crowded clumps is difficult because of the deep taproot.

✓ Toxicity

Non-toxic