Ratibida pinnata
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With drooping yellow petals around a tall, dark central cone, Grey-Headed Coneflower brings a graceful, prairie charm to midsummer gardens. It grows 3–5 feet tall and sways gently in the breeze with long-lasting blooms.
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Prefers full sun and dry to medium soils, thriving in lean conditions and tolerating drought once established. Minimal maintenance—just cut back in late winter if desired.
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Forms upright clumps and mingles beautifully with grasses and other prairie perennials without crowding them out. Self-seeds lightly in open soil but stays well-behaved.
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Native to the central and eastern U.S., especially in tallgrass prairies, open woods, and roadsides.
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Fine, ferny foliage emerges in spring, followed by cheerful flowers from mid to late summer. Seed heads provide height and texture into fall and winter.
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Beloved by native bees and butterflies for nectar and pollen. Birds, especially finches, eat the seeds in fall and winter.
Grey-Headed Coneflower