Purple coneflower for birds in Pennsylvania
Leave seed heads up through winter for goldfinches. Native to Pennsylvania, where it feeds or shelters 43 backyard bird species.
- Scientific name
- Echinacea purpurea
- Native status
- Native in Pennsylvania
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 5a–7b
- What birds get from it
- seed
- Pennsylvania birds supported
- 43
- Nesting birds among them
- 35
Growing conditions in Pennsylvania
Humid continental; cold, snowy winters in the north and mountains, milder in the southeast.
Warm summers; bluebirds typically raise two broods.
Pennsylvania birds that use Purple coneflower
Year-round residents (23)
Northern Cardinal, Black-capped Chickadee, Carolina Chickadee, American Goldfinch, House Finch, Purple Finch, Mourning Dove, Dark-eyed Junco, White-throated Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Eastern Towhee, House Sparrow, American Crow, Wood Duck, Wild Turkey, Northern Bobwhite, Mallard, Eastern Meadowlark, Brown-headed Cowbird, Field Sparrow, Canada Goose, Horned Lark, Rock Pigeon
Summer breeders (12)
Chipping Sparrow, Common Grackle, Red-winged Blackbird, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Indigo Bunting, Lark Sparrow, American Coot, Savannah Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, Vesper Sparrow, Blue Grosbeak, Bobolink
Winter visitors (8)
Evening Grosbeak, Pine Siskin, Common Redpoll, American Tree Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, Snow Bunting, Common Redpoll, Hoary Redpoll
Snow cover makes suet and heated water valuable; both chickadee species meet in a narrow hybrid zone across the south of the state.
Nesting season it supports in Pennsylvania
Plants that feed adults and host caterpillars matter most while nestlings are in the nest. Local nesting windows for birds that use Purple coneflower:
- Northern Cardinal — April–August
- Black-capped Chickadee — April–July
- Carolina Chickadee — April–June
- American Goldfinch — July–September
- House Finch — April–August
- Purple Finch — May–July
- Mourning Dove — March–September
- Dark-eyed Junco — May–July
- White-throated Sparrow — May–July
- Song Sparrow — April–August
Native plants to pair with Purple coneflower in Pennsylvania
Tubular flowers for hummingbirds and seed heads for finches.
Native bunchgrass; winter seed and ground cover for sparrows and juncos.
Frequently asked
Is Purple coneflower native to Pennsylvania?
Yes. Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) is recorded as native in Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania spans USDA 5a–7b.
What birds does Purple coneflower attract in Pennsylvania?
In Pennsylvania, Purple coneflower supports 43 backyard birds, including Northern Cardinal, Black-capped Chickadee, Carolina Chickadee, American Goldfinch, House Finch, Purple Finch.
Does Purple coneflower help nesting birds in Pennsylvania?
35 of those birds nest in Pennsylvania: Northern Cardinal (April–August), Black-capped Chickadee (April–July), Carolina Chickadee (April–June), American Goldfinch (July–September).
Which winter birds use Purple coneflower in Pennsylvania?
Winter visitors Evening Grosbeak, Pine Siskin, Common Redpoll, American Tree Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, Snow Bunting, Common Redpoll, Hoary Redpoll use it in Pennsylvania during the cold months.
Sources
- USDA PLANTS Database (native distribution)
- VASCAN (Canadian native distribution)
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Pennsylvania
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)
- Audubon Native Plants Database
Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.