Mexican Hat, Thimbleflower
Prairie Coneflowers' tall cones (up to 1.5 in) of dark tubular florets are surrounded at their base by 4-12 backward-bending, yellow-orange petals. It's easy to understand why they're also known as Mexican Hats and Thimbleflowers.
The plants flower from July to September along the sides of roads or in dry grassland areas throughout western Canada, Ontario, and the west-central United States.
Prairie Coneflowers are 10-24 in tall with multiple stiff, grooved stems. The leaves are deeply divided and up to 6 in long.
Did you know? The mature seed heads smell like licorice or anise when crushed.
See Also: Aster, Black-eyed Susan, Gaillardia, Philadelphia Fleabane, Prairie Sunflower, Tufted Fleabane
Easy - numerous and usually easy to spot
in the habitats listed at the appropriate time of
year.
Grasslands are large open areas covered with
grasses. They have very few trees or shrubs.
This habitat includes prairies and tundra.