Kendall County (IL) Forest Preserve District
Long-headed Coneflower
(Mexican Hat)
Ratibida columnifera [C-value
0]
Aster family (Asteraceae))
Blooms
mid-June - mid-September
The western native Long-headed Coneflower is rare in our area. It prefers full sun, dry conditions, and a relatively barren soil. Habitats include upland prairies and roadsides. This perennial is 1-3' tall, branching occasionally, with alternate leaves up to 6" long and 2" across with 5-11 lobes on petioles up to 2" long. The upper stems terminate in individual flowers on long naked stalks 2-12" long and finely grooved. The flowers are about 1½–3" long with a cylindrical head of numerous disk florets surrounded by 4-11 drooping ray florets, ½–1¼" long, oblong in shape, and slightly notched at their tips, either yellow, maroon, or yellow with patches of maroon. A mature head of disk florets is ¾–1¾" long and gray or greenish gray becoming dark brown.
Long-headed Coneflower at Rose Hill Subdivision June 29, 2013
Long-headed Coneflower at Rose Hill Subdivision June 29, 2013
Long-headed Coneflower foliage at Rose Hill Subdivision June 29, 2013
Long-headed Coneflower (Mexican Hat) at Jay Woods Forest Preserve July 1, 2013
These plants are in an area that was once seeded with mail order "Wildflower Seeds", This probably explains how it came to Kendall County.
Long-headed Coneflower at Baker Woods Forest Preserve June 30, 2012
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