Gray-headed coneflower

Stearn’s dictionary describes the word 'ratibida' as meaning 'obscure'. Pinnata means feather-like or pinnately cut leaves. Of course there are multiple common names for this plant. I prefer to use Gray-headed coneflower. This refers to the gray hue of both the unopened buds and the mature seed heads. Other common names include Pinnate prairie coneflower and Yellow coneflower.

The flower petals of Gray-headed coneflower are bright lemony yellow. They are especially beautiful when combined with blue and purple flowers such as Ironweeds, Salvia, and Liatris. The flowers are held above the leaves on long stalks with each flower head consisting of both ray and disk flowers. The yellow ray flowers may number as many as 10 to 16. These are what we usually think of as the 'flower petals'. These flowers are sterile. The fertile flowers on the cone open from bottom to top, turning the head from 'gray' to 'brown' when all have opened. Individual flower heads don't have much aroma, but if you walk by a colony of plants in peak flowering, you will notice a lovely anise-like scent. The aroma becomes much more powerful when the seed heads mature. This makes collecting seed from this plant a very pleasurable task.

The basal rosette of Gray-headed coneflower gives rise to fuzzy, hirsute stems in the spring. The stem may be single or several, growing to a height between 3-5 feet. The stem is often ridged and with branches. The leaves are sessile, alternate and pinnately divided into 3 to 7 lobes. They are rough to touch and feel stiff. The leaves of the basal rosette persist through the winter. In late fall, they turn beautiful shades of yellow-gold, green, brown and burgundy.

The seed heads release a wonderful anise scent when handled. Initially, they are hard, but with maturity (and especially after a rain), they soften and will crumble into your hand in a satisfying way when squeezed.

Bees are the primary pollinators of Gray-headed coneflower. Leafcutter bees, Bumble bees, Long-horned bees and Sweat bees are often seen working the flowers.

Butterflies, Skippers, Wasps, Syrphid flies, and other interesting insects also visit the flowers for nectar and may aid in pollination.

Gray-headed coneflower is somewhat of a generalist when it comes to habitat. It's found in glades, prairies, savannahs and open woods. It's drought and heat tolerant, flowering well in full sun to part shade. When it finds a suitable habitat it readily spreads, creating a beautiful mass of yellow!

Gray-headed coneflower is native to the Midwest and Eastern states. While its overall status is Secure, it is listed as Critically Imperiled in 2 states- Pennsylvania and South Carolina. It has Imperiled status in Louisiana and Florida and Vulnerable status in Georgia. Its listed as Apparently Secure in Kentucky and Indiana. All other states within its range show No Status Rank on Natureserve.

It’s no secret that growing native plants provides important habitat for insects, songbirds and even mammals. Gray headed coneflower is no exception. It provides food for caterpillars of the beautiful Silvery Checkerspot (Chlosyne nycteis) butterfly and many moths. It’s especially important to bees for both collecting and feeding on pollen.

Goldfinches and other songbirds eat the seeds. I suggest planting Gray-headed coneflowers where you can observe them from a window during fall and winter. Goldfinches absolutely love the seeds and are a joy to watch as they bounce from one branch to another.