Purple Coneflower
Many gardeners are brightening their landscapes with purple coneflower, a beautiful perennial that isn't always purple.
Some choose improved cultivars like 'Hot Papaya', 'Mac 'n' Cheese', or 'Raspberry Truffle' because of their shocking colors, while others plant the native purple species in order to attract and feed butterflies.
Known scientifically as echinacea, the plants can grow to a three-foot clump, and the daisy-like flowers bloom throughout spring and summer on tall flower stalks.
However, not all forms of purple coneflower perform well in every part of Florida. Some may grow for a year or two and then fizzle out, though enriched, well-drained soil can help them last longer. But plant breeders are always coming up with new selections you can add to your perennial beds.