"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 (Ohio to Michigan to Iowa south to Louisiana and Georgia). It typically grows to 2-4' tall. Showy daisy-like purple coneflowers (to 5" diameter) bloom throughout summer atop stiff stems clad with coarse, ovate to broad-lanceolate, dark green leaves. Good fresh cut or dried flower. The dead flower stems will remain erect well into the winter, and if flower heads are not removed, the blackened cones may be visited by goldfinches or other birds that feed on the seeds.

Genus name of Echinacea comes from the Greek word echinos meaning hedgehog or sea-urchin in reference to the spiny center cone found on most flowers in the genus.

Specific epithet means purple.

'Magnus' (in honor of developer Magnus B. Nilsson of Sweden) was introduced into commerce by Jelitto Seeds in 1985. It won the Perennial Plant Association Plant of the Year award in 1998 and the RHS Award of Garden Merit in 2003. 'Magnus' is an upright, clump-forming, single-type coneflower which typically grows to as much as 40" tall and to 18" wide on sturdy stems that usually do not need staking. Large daisy-like flowers (to 3-5" diameter) bloom from late spring to late summer (sometimes sporadically to frost) on sturdy stems rising to 3-4' tall. Each flower features non-drooping rose-pink to rose-purple petal-like ray flowers which surround a center cone of orange-brown disk flowers. Toothed, ovate to broad lanceolate, medium to dark green leaves to 6" long. It is considered to be one of the best Echinacea cultivars in commerce. Jelitto Seeds has now introduced Echinacea purpurea 'Magnus Superior' as an improved version, with the expectation that 'Magnus Superior' will soon replace 'Magnus'. Improvements in 'Magnus Superior' include deeper lavender rays, larger copper center cones, darker stems and more consistent growth.

Problems

Japanese beetle and leaf spot are occasional problems. Susceptible to aster yellows disease.

Uses

Excellent, long-blooming flower for massing in the border, meadow, native plant garden, naturalized area, wildflower garden or part shade area of woodland garden. Often massed with black-eyed Susans (rudbeckias)." - Missouri Botanical Garden