Prairie Plant Gallery

Yellow Coneflower (Ratibida pinnata) is a perennial plant characterized by its 5 to 10 yellow petals that droop back toward the stem revealing a gray, cone-shaped seed head.  The leaves are divided into 3 to 7 pointed lobes.  Yellow Coneflower belongs to the Aster family (Asteraceae) and can grow to be over 3 feet tall. This species attracts a variety of insect pollinators including bees and butterflies.  Yellow Coneflower blooms from mid-June through August and is one of the most common prairie wildflowers in the Arboretum prairies.