Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea 'Kim's Knee High')

Overview

Echinacea purpurea ‘Kim’s Knee High’ is a highly valued, compact cultivar of the familiar Purple coneflower. Gardeners appreciate this selection for its sturdy, short habit, making it less prone to flopping compared to taller species, while still providing months of clear pink daisy-like blooms. This adaptable herbaceous perennial is a cornerstone for late-season color in perennial borders and native plant gardens.

As a drought-tolerant member of the Asteraceae family, Echinacea purpurea ‘Kim’s Knee High’ is remarkably easy to grow, thriving even in average soils with minimal fuss. Its strong structure and extended bloom window from June through August ensure sustained visual interest. Beyond aesthetics, the prominent central cones of the Purple coneflower offer significant value to local ecosystems, particularly for seed-eating goldfinches in the late fall and winter months.

This specific cultivar, often noted for reaching about knee height, maintains a tidy appearance that integrates well into mixed plantings. Whether used for naturalizing large areas or adding dependable color to structured borders, the reliability and beauty of Echinacea purpurea ‘Kim’s Knee High’ make it a superb choice for both novice and expert gardeners alike.

Fast Facts

• Plant Family: Asteraceae
• Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
• Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 3-8
• Size at Maturity:
  • Height: 1-2 ft
  • Spread: 1-2 ft
• Bloom Time: June to August
• Bloom Description: Clear pink
• Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
• Water Needs: Dry to medium
• Maintenance Level: Low

How to Grow

Planting Echinacea purpurea ‘Kim’s Knee High’ is best done in spring or fall, ensuring the area receives full sun for the most robust flowering, although part shade is tolerated. This plant adapts well to average, dry to medium, well-drained soil conditions. It is famously tolerant of drought, heat, humidity, and even clay or shallow-rocky soils, showcasing its rugged nature.

Care requirements are refreshingly low once established. Watering should be kept to the dry to medium range; avoid overly wet conditions which can promote root issues. Fertilizing is typically unnecessary, especially if grown in a native garden setting. While plants usually rebloom without deadheading, the prompt removal of spent flowers improves the overall appearance throughout the season.

If clumps become overly crowded, divide them approximately every four years to maintain vigor and improve air circulation. Leaving some seed heads standing into winter provides crucial food for birds like goldfinches, adding seasonal wildlife value to your garden. This hardy Purple coneflower setup ensures years of enjoyment with minimal intervention.

Landscape Uses

The suggested use for Echinacea purpurea ‘Kim’s Knee High’ is primarily to naturalize, filling spaces with consistent, sturdy color. Its compact nature makes it excellent for massing in the front or middle of perennial borders where taller Echinacea varieties might overcrowd their neighbors. Try using this sturdy plant in native plant gardens or wildflower meadows to create a sweeping tapestry effect.

For structured designs, massing shorter specimens like ‘Kim’s Knee High’ alongside black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia) creates a classic, high-impact summer display with color and texture that attracts pollinators. It performs beautifully in naturalized areas, requiring little supplemental water once established, making it perfect for less accessible or drier garden sections. Consider mixing it with ornamental grasses for dynamic winter interest.

Standout Features

Flower Qualities

• Showy

Noteworthy Characteristics

Echinacea purpurea, commonly called purple coneflower, is a coarse, rough-hairy, herbaceous perennial that is native to moist prairies, meadows and open woods of the central to southeastern United States. Showy daisy-like purple coneflowers bloom throughout summer atop stiff stems clad with coarse, dark green leaves, and the dead flower stems remain erect well into the winter, with seed heads potentially visited by goldfinches. The cultivar ‘Kim’s Knee High’ is specifically selected for its compact habit, noted for beginning bloom when rigid stems reach about 15 inches tall, featuring clear rose-pink rays and prominent coppery-orange central cones.

Tolerances

• Deer
• Drought
• Clay Soil
• Dry Soil
• Shallow-Rocky Soil

Potential Problems

Japanese beetle and leaf spot are occasional problems that may affect your Echinacea purpurea ‘Kim’s Knee High’. Susceptibility to aster yellows disease, which can cause stunted or distorted growth, is also noted. Monitor plants during peak pest activity, particularly for leaf spot, ensuring adequate air circulation by maintaining proper spacing as plants mature can help mitigate fungal issues.

Frequently Asked Questions

What hardiness zones is Purple coneflower suitable for?

Echinacea purpurea ‘Kim’s Knee High’ is well-suited for USDA Hardiness Zones 3 through 8, offering reliability across a wide temperate range.

How large does Echinacea purpurea ‘Kim’s Knee High’ grow?

This compact variety typically reaches a mature height between 1 and 2 feet, with a similar spread of 1 to 2 feet, maintaining a tidy “knee-high” stature.

When does Purple coneflower bloom?

You can expect reliable color from this selection throughout the summer, generally blooming from June through August, displaying clear pink rays.

What sun exposure does Echinacea purpurea ‘Kim’s Knee High’ need?

For optimal performance, this plant prefers full sun, though it will tolerate conditions falling into the full sun to part shade spectrum.

Conclusion

The Echinacea purpurea ‘Kim’s Knee High’ offers gardeners a compact, exceptionally hardy, and long-blooming perennial solution. Its easy-care nature and drought tolerance solidify the Purple coneflower’s role as an essential garden workhorse through the summer months. Check your local hardiness zone compatibility and plan to plant this superb cultivar during the spring or fall for best establishment success.

Companion Planting

When designing a mixed border around Echinacea purpurea ‘Kim’s Knee High’, focus on plants that share similar sun and water needs—full sun to dry or medium soil. Excellent partners include ornamental grasses like Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) which provide textural contrast as the coneflowers fade. Look also to other sturdy prairie natives such as Hyssop (Agastache) or sturdy varieties of Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia) for continuous, compatible color synergy.

Wildlife Benefits

The central cones of the Purple coneflower are a major draw for wildlife enthusiasts. Leaving the spent flower heads standing beyond the bloom time in June to August allows goldfinches and other small birds to perch and feed on the seeds throughout the winter. Furthermore, the open, accessible flower structure of Echinacea purpurea ‘Kim’s Knee High’ reliably attracts numerous species of native bees and butterflies seeking nectar during the hot summer season.