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Mexican Hat, Long-Headed Coneflower, Red Coneflower, Upright Prairie Coneflower, Thimbleflower - Ratibida columnifera


Family: Asteraceae - Aster family Genus Common Name: Prairie Coneflower Native Status: NativeDicot Perennial Herb
Ratibida columnifera - Mexican Hat, Long-Headed Coneflower, Red Coneflower, Upright Prairie Coneflower, Thimbleflower. Ratibida is a genus of four species in the United States. While Ratibida columnifera is native to the United states, many of the populations in the United States are probably the result of naturalization of garden escapees. USDA Plants Database has it only in Davidson County in Tennessee, so these Meigs County photos are likely from a cultivated colony or escapees. It flowers between March and November, growing in prairies and other prairie-like habitats.

Found in:
AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, FL, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, LA, MA, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NJ, NM, NY, OH, OK, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, WI, WV, WY

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Ratibida columnifera

Distribution of Ratibida columnifera in the United States and Canada:
Map unavailable.
Map courtesy of The Biota of North America Program.
Map color key

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Site: Hiwassee Wildlife Refuge, Meigs County, Tennessee Date: 2012-November-11Photographer: Gerald C. Williamson
Nikon D7000
The flowers of Ratibida columnifera are held on leafless stems reaching 18 inches to 3 feet high. The blossoms have 4 to 12 ray florets surrounding a central disk of many greenish yellow florets. The disk is column-shaped, giving the plant both its species epithet and the sombrero-shaped appearance. There is usually red on the petals, but in some cases may be entirely yellow.
Ratibida columnifera

Site: Hiwassee Wildlife Refuge, Meigs County, Tennessee Date: 2012-November-11Photographer: Gerald C Williamson
Nikon D7000
Mexican Hat is a highly branched plant with pinnately lobed leaves each with 3 to 14 narrow, hairy lobes.
Click on the photo for a larger image
Ratibida columnifera

References used for identification and information:
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Ratibida columnifera initially published on USWildflowers.com 2012-11-17; Updated 2017-03-02

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All content except USDA Plants Database map Copyright Gerald C. Williamson 2024
Photographs Copyright owned by the named photographer



Code Update 20230302