Prairie Coneflower, Upright prairie coneflower, Woolly Cinquefoil, Praire Coneflower, Mexican Hat
Ratibida columnifera

Family: Asteraceae or Compositae

What it is like

Bloom Color: Yellow. Main Bloom Time: Early fall, Late summer. Form: Irregular or sprawling, Upright or erect.

Ratibida columnifera is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.8 m (2ft 7in) at a fast rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 3. It is in flower in September. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought.

Height (m): 0.8

Where it is found

Dry plains, prairies and ravines. Sandy, silty, or rocky open ground in Texas.

Western N. America - British Columbia to Montana, Nebraska, Texas, New Mexico and Mexico.

Conservation Status:

Countries/locations it is found in

How it is used

Food

Rating: 1

A pleasant tasting tea is made from the leaves and flower heads.

Tea: the various herb teas that can be used in place of tea, plus the genuine article.

Medicine

Rating: 1

The leaves and stems are analgesic. An infusion is used to relieve the pain of headaches and to treat stomach aches and fevers. A decoction is used as a wash to relieve pain and to treat poison ivy rash. The decoction is also used as a wash to draw the poison out of a rattlesnakes bite.

Analgesic: Relieves pain.

Febrifuge: Reduces fevers.

Other

Rating:

How it is grown

Landscape Uses:Border. Prefers a sunny well-drained border of fairly rich soil. Established plants are extremely drought tolerant. A very ornamental plant. Although perennial, plants are sometimes grown as annuals, they flower in their first year from seed. Special Features:North American native, Naturalizing, Suitable for cut flowers.

Propagating it: Seed - we have no information for this species but suggest sowing the seed in a cold frame in early spring. Only just cover the seed and put the pot in a sunny position. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in early summer. Division in spring is possible but very difficult because the plant has a long taproot.

Best place to grow: Cultivated Beds;

Habit: Perennial

Hardiness: 4-9

Growth: Fast

Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)

Shade: No shade

Moisture: Dry, moist

Things to keep in mind

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

R. columnaris. Lepachys columnaris.