# grey-headed coneflower (*Ratibida pinnata*) The grey-headed coneflower is a bright yellow flower with a tall, spiky center. It loves to grow in sunny places and can be found in fields and meadows, making them look cheerful and colorful. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 15 - **Habitat:** Grasslands - **Also known as:** Prairie Coneflower, Yellow Coneflower ![grey-headed coneflower](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Ratibida_pinnata_%282%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: Joshua Mayer from Madison, WI, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ratibida_pinnata_%282%29.jpg) ## Appearance The grey-headed coneflower has slender, drooping bright yellow petals that surround a prominent, greyish-brown, egg-shaped central cone. Its tall, upright stems display finely divided, dark green leaves, making it stand out in fields. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Asterales - **Family:** Asteraceae - **Genus:** Ratibida ## Interesting facts - After flowering, the tall stiff stems often stay standing through winter, feeding birds. - Its unusual grey cone smells like anise or black licorice when crushed! - Native Americans brewed its roots to soothe toothaches and fevers. - The seeds are a favorite snack for small birds like finches and sparrows! ## Special abilities - **Drought Warrior:** Coneflower can grow deep taproots that help it survive long periods without water, even in dry prairies. - **Seed Spreader:** Its many seeds are easily dispersed by wind and small birds, helping the plant spread naturally across landscapes. - **Herbal Healer:** Coneflower leaves and roots contain compounds historically used by indigenous people for soothing medicinal teas. - **Pollinator Beacon:** The bright petals and prominent cone act like a landing strip, guiding buzzing insect pollinators to its nectar. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 90-150 cm - **Spread:** 30-60 cm - **Flower Size:** 2-7 cm - **Bloom Season:** Summer to Fall (July-September) - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Collects nectar and pollen. - **Pollinates:** [Monarch butterfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/monarch-butterfly) (*Danaus plexippus*) — Feeds on nectar during migration. - **Eaten by:** [American Goldfinch](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-goldfinch) (*Carduelis tristis*) — Relishes its nutritious seeds. - **Eats:** [American Bison](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-bison) (*Bison bison*) — Grazed on its foliage in prairies. ## Traits - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always look but don't touch flowers without asking an adult. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify grey-headed coneflower? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is grey-headed coneflower? 90-150 cm ### How wide does grey-headed coneflower spread? 30-60 cm ### How big are the flowers on grey-headed coneflower? 2-7 cm ### When does grey-headed coneflower bloom? Summer to Fall (July-September) ### Is grey-headed coneflower edible? Yes ### Is grey-headed coneflower toxic? None ### What is grey-headed coneflower's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Georgia Institute of Technology Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/georgia-institute-of-technology-historic-district) — Georgia, US · Historic District - [Haskell-Baker Wetlands](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/haskell-baker-wetlands) — Kansas, US · Nature Reserve - [Hoffner Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/hoffner-historic-district) — Ohio, US · Historic District - [Market Square](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/market-square) — Tennessee, US · Historic District - [Mount Airy Forest](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/mount-airy-forest) — Ohio, US · Forest - [Shaw Nature Reserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/shaw-nature-reserve) — Missouri, US · Botanical Garden [View all places to see grey-headed coneflower](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/grey-headed-coneflower) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Grey-headed Coneflower: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/grey-headed-coneflower)