Prairie coneflower, Mexican hat
Ratibida columnifera

Family: Asteraceae

What it is like

A daisy family plant that keeps growing from year to year. It grows 60 cm high and spreads 45 cm wide. The leaves are alternate and deeply divided into narrow segments. They are 5-10 cm long. The flowers are yellow disks. The flowers heads occur as several together in cone like disks. They are 1-5 cm high. The fruit is a grey-black flattened achene.

There are 5 Ratibida species.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It grows in the prairie region of the USA. It suits hardiness zones 4-9.

Countries/locations it is found in

Argentina, Australia, Mexico, North America (country/location of origin), Slovenia, South America, USA

How it is used for food

The leaves and flower heads are brewed into tea.

Edible parts

Leaves - tea, flowers - tea

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Lepachys columnaris (Pursh) Torr. & A. Gray; Lepachys columnifera (Nutt.) J. F. Macbr.; Obeliscana columnaris DC.; Ratibida columnaris Raf.; Ratibida columnaris (Pursh) D. Don; Rudbeckia columnaris Pursh; Rudbeckia columnifera Nutt.;