This widely-distributed prairie species is one of the most popular native plants. It has gorgeous flowers, a long bloom time, and it's highly attractive to a range of pollinators. The seeds are also important for animals, especially seed-eating birds like goldfinches. Perhaps because this plant is so popular, there are named cultivars available. While these may have larger flowers or special colors, they are rarely tested to see if they provide the same nectar for insects. Some are hybrids, and often they have little genetic variability and/or cannot make viable seeds, making them less useful for wildlife. Many of these cultivars will not spread from seed.
On the trail we try to use plants that genetically more close to those that would be found in natural areas, preferably from the mid-Atlantic region. This means that things we plant should be able to spread from seed, and we are finding that indeed purple coneflowers are coming up from seed in some areas, which is awesome. If you plant seeds or plants of these open-pollinated unimproved varieties, you will be doing the bees and butterflies a big favor! You may also see purple coneflowers spread to new areas.