Pale Purple Coneflower ( Echinacea pallida ) and Purple Coneflower ( Echinacea purpurea ) are both beautiful and popular blossoming plant in the Asteraceae family . While they partake similarities in terms of their overall appearance , there are a few fundamental difference that set them aside .

1 . Flowerhead Shape and Color : Both Pale Purple Coneflower and Purple Coneflower have daisy - like flowerheads , but there are slight variation in shape and colour . Pale Purple Coneflower typically has a more elongated and narrow-minded flowerhead equate to the more or less round flowerhead of Purple Coneflower . The color of the petals is also slightly different – Pale Purple Coneflower has wan lavender to pinkish - purple petal , while Purple Coneflower has vibrant violet petals .

2 . Leaf and Stem Characteristics : One detectable difference between the two species lie in their leafage and stem characteristics . Pale Purple Coneflower has shorter and wider leaves compared to the longer and narrow leaves of Purple Coneflower . The leaves of Pale Purple Coneflower often have a more or less greyish - green colouring , while those of Purple Coneflower run to be more bright immature . In terms of stem , Pale Purple Coneflower typically has shorter and sturdier stems , while Purple Coneflower may have taller and more slender stems .

3 . Involucral Bracts : The involucral bract , which are leaf - like social organization that surround the substructure of the flowerhead , also display some remainder . In Pale Purple Coneflower , the involucral bract have purple stubble and tips , sum a speck of color to the overall visual aspect of the flowerhead . On the other script , the involucral bracts of Purple Coneflower usually have green stalks and lead .

4 . Habitat Preferences : While both species are native to North America , they have slightly different home ground penchant . Pale Purple Coneflower is ordinarily found in prairies , meadow , and open woodlands , specially in the cardinal and southeastern regions of the United States . Purple Coneflower , on the other bridge player , has a wider range and can be found in a change of habitats , including prairies , loose woodlands , and even disturbed area such as roadside and garden .

5 . polish and use : Both Pale Purple Coneflower and Purple Coneflower are cultivated as ornamental plants in gardens and landscapes due to their attractive flowers and ability to attract pollinators . They are also valued for their medicinal properties and are commonly used in herbal therapeutic . Purple Coneflower , being more wide available and adaptable , is often the best-loved choice for nurseryman and landscaping projects . However , Pale Purple Coneflower can be a unequaled summation to a native plant garden , offer a touch of elegance with its clear-cut flowerhead shape and paler colour .

It is deserving noting that there are other mintage of coneflowers , such as Sanguine Purple Coneflower ( Echinacea sanguinea ) and Glade Coneflower ( Echinacea simulata ) , which have flowerheads of like shape and semblance to Pale Purple Coneflower . These species may also exhibit variations in leaf and stem characteristic , as well as slight differences in home ground druthers .

While Pale Purple Coneflower and Purple Coneflower share some similarity in their flowerhead pattern and color , there are decided differences in leaf and theme characteristics , involucral bract , habitat preferences , and cultivation preferences . These subtle edition add to the diverse and fascinating world of coneflower , offering choice for nurseryman and enthusiasts to explore and appreciate .

Caroline Bates