Echinacea purpurea is an herbaceous perennial up to 120 centimeters (47 inches) tall by 25 cm (10 in) wide at maturity.

The inflorescence is a capitulum, 7 to 15 cm (3 to 6 in) in diameter, formed by a prominent domed central protuberance consisting of multiple small yellow florets.

Echinacea is derived from Greek, meaning 'spiny one', in reference to the spiny sea urchins 'εχίνοι' which the ripe flower heads of species of this genus resemble.

[6] The species was originally described and named Rudbeckia purpurea by Carl Linnaeus in 1753.

[8] Echinacea purpurea is native to parts of eastern North America[9] and present to some extent in the wild in much of the eastern, southeastern and midwestern United States as well as in the Canadian Province of Ontario.

The cultivars 'Ruby Giant'[13] and 'Elbrook'[14] have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.

Cuttings made from roots that are "pencil-sized" will develop into plants when started in late autumn or early winter.

[16] Seed germination occurs best with daily temperature fluctuations[9] or after stratification,[10] which help to end dormancy.

[18] Slugs[9] and rabbits will also eat the foliage when young, or shortly after emerging in the spring.

[10] Echinacea purpurea contains alkamides, caffeic acid derivatives, polysaccharides, and glycoproteins.