Echinacea, a genus of herbaceous flowering plants in the daisy family, is native to eastern and central North America. These coneflowers thrive in wet to dry prairies and wooded areas.
The name “Echinacea” comes from the Greek word ἐχῖνος (ekhinos), meaning “hedgehog,” due to their spiny central disks. European explorers first encountered Echinacea in southeastern North America during the 18th century. Linnaeus formally described the genus in 1753. Native American tribes, including the Lakota Sioux, used it for various purposes, such as treating syphilis.
Today, Echinacea purpurea is commonly used in traditional medicine, although scientific evidence supporting its health benefits remains inconclusive.
