Yellow coneflower (Ratibida pinnata) is a perennial wildflower native to the Midwest. It reaches a height of three to five feet. Its flowers have up to 15 droopy yellow petals that surround a thimble-shaped cone. The flowers are two to 2-1/2 inches in diameter. It has 10 to 25 flower heads per plant, each on a separate stalk. The leaves are highly divided and up to seven inches long with coarsely toothed lobes. It grows best in dry, sunny areas along roads or in prairies. It’s bloom time runs from summer into fall. Though the flowers lack a strong scent, the crushed seed heads release a subtle anise aroma.
Ecologically, Ratibida pinnata is a keystone of remnant prairies and disturbed habitats, thriving in black soil prairies, limestone glades, and along railroads where native flora still clings to life. Its rhizomatous roots form tight clumps, stabilizing soil and resisting drought, while its blooms offer nectar and pollen to a diverse array of pollinators: green metallic bees, leafcutter bees, and silvery checkerspot butterflies among them. Goldfinches feast on its seeds, and groundhogs nibble its foliage, weaving it into the food web of the prairie. (July)