What Is a Black Sampson Purple Coneflower?

Description

• Black sampson purple coneflower is a perennial that grows up to 2 feet tall. The 3-inch-wide flowers have drooping petals and an upright cone-shaped center. They are held above the foliage on stout, hairy stems. The coarse, hairy leaves can be 12 inches long and 1-1/2 inches wide at the base and 2 inches long and 1/2-inch wide on the upper stem. A long taproot makes purple coneflowers very drought tolerant.

Ornamental Use

• As an ornamental, black sampson coneflower is very adaptable, showy and problem free. It has a long bloom season, from midsummer to early fall, and attracts birds and butterflies. Plant it in full sun and well-drained soil of average fertility. It will generally re-bloom without deadheading, but removing old flowers will keep it more attractive. It may self-seed or be spread by the birds who come to feast on the seeds. Divide clumps if they become too crowded.

Medicial Uses

• Black sampson coneflower was the most widely used medicinal plant among Plains Indians. It was used as a painkiller and anti-convulsive, as well as a cough, cold, toothache, sore throat and snakebite remedy. White settlers widely adopted black sampson purple coneflower for medicinal use. It is still widely used in herbal medicine and modern research has shown it to be effective as an immune stimulant and to have some anti-carcinogenic and anti-inflammatory properties.

Insecticidal Uses

• Black Sampson purple coneflower also contains some substances that are useful as insecticides. One compound is toxic to flies and mosquitoes. Another substance, called echinoline, disrupts insect development. Researchers are working to find coneflowers with high levels of echinoline and develop insecticides based on these compounds.