With its adorable dome-shaped flowers and adaptability to most garden conditions, Purple Coneflower seems to turn up just about everywhere. 
 
     That's good news for pollinators as the flowers attract many species of bees, moths and beetles, as well as Monarchs and other butterflies.
 
     Purple Coneflower is native just south and west of New England but well adapted to this climate.  It can tolerate heat, humidity, drought and poor soil, and it's often grown with Black-eyed Susans.
 
     Fun fact:  Like other flowers of the Echinacea species, this one can be used to make a popular herbal tea.
 
     1st Photo: Tree Talk Natives; 2nd Photo: Creative Commons