Yellow Coneflower (Ratibida pinnata)

Yellow Coneflower (Ratibida pinnata)

Yellow coneflower 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 ray florets that surround a thimble‑shaped cone. The flowers are two to 2‑1/2 inches in diameter. It has 5 to 20 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. Its 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 dependable mid‑summer forb of remnant prairies and disturbed habitats, thriving in black‑soil prairies, limestone glades, and along railroads where native flora persists. Its deep taproot and fibrous crown form tight clumps that stabilize soil and resist drought, while its blooms offer nectar and pollen to a diverse array of pollinators, including green metallic bees, leafcutter bees, and silvery checkerspot butterflies. Goldfinches feast on its seeds, and groundhogs occasionally nibble its foliage, weaving it into the food web of the prairie.

Sources:

Missouri Botanical Garden — Ratibida pinnata

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center — Ratibida pinnata

USDA PLANTS Database — Ratibida pinnata

Wild Ones Front Range Chapter — Ratibida pinnata

Grokipedia — Ratibida pinnata

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