Prairie Coneflower, Upright Prairie Coneflower, Ratibida columnifera, Native Minnesota Wildflower plant, Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden

	Plants of the Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden
	Common Name	Scientific Name	Plant Family	Garden Location	Prime Season
	Long-headed Coneflower	Ratibida columnifera (Nutt.) Woot. & Standl.	Aster (Composite)	Upland	Early to Late Summer
Other names and notes	(Upright Prairie Coneflower, Columnar Coneflower) This prairie plant grows from one to two feet high, the leaves are pinnate (deeply lobed), the yellow rays are not as long the central cone. The rays can also have a reddish-brown color. When the rays have this alternate color it is sometimes called "Mexican Hat". Not as tall as the Gray-headed coneflower (R. pinnata) but with a taller center cone - 2 to 3" tall. The plant has a deep taproot making it drought tolerant. On grazeland Long-headed coneflower is palatable and nutritious to domestic grazing as well a source of seeds for birds and other wildlife. It is generally disease free but crowding by other plants, while affecting the survival of the plants, can also allow mildew and crown rot to spread.


Long-headed Coneflower blooming in early July in the Upland Garden.

Notes: Long-headed Coneflower is a relatively new addition to the Upland Garden. Martha Crone did not report it there in her 1951 census. It is native to Minnesota with the primary populations being reported in the dryer counties bordering the Dakotas. Populations are also reported in the metro counties of Hennepin, Anoka, Ramsey and Washington. The addition of the word "prairie" to the common name does not imply a restriction to western prairie areas. Native (or long-established) populations of the plant have been reported in all states of the United States except upper New England , Virginia, Kentucky, Nevada, Oregon and Washington.

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References: Plant characteristics are generally from sources 15, 16, 30, 31, 33, W2 & W3. Distribution principally from W2 and also 31, 34 and W1. Planting history generally from 1, 4 & 4a. Other sources by specific reference. See Reference List for details.

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