Species › Plants › Prairie Coneflower

Prairie Coneflower

Ratibida columnifera

CommonPlant
Illustration of Prairie Coneflower (Ratibida columnifera)

Prairie Coneflower is a distinctive native wildflower of the Great Plains with a tall, thimble-shaped central cone and drooping yellow or red-and-yellow ray petals that hang like a Mexican sombrero. It blooms over a long season from June through September and provides excellent nectar for native bees and butterflies.

Habitat
Dry prairies, roadsides, and open plains of the Great Plains
Diet
Nectar and pollen for native bees; seeds eaten by prairie birds
How common
Common

Best time to see a Prairie Coneflower

The best time to see a Prairie Coneflower is April–June, when about 63% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 37,981 research-grade iNaturalist observations.

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