The purple coneflower called Echinacea is a native North American plant. You can find it throughout the central plains, where it grows wild on road banks, fields, prairies, and in the open woods. The flower looks sort of like a black-eyed Susan, with a prominent center and colorful purple petals, instead of Susan’s bright yellow ones. The Plains Indians also called the plant snake root because the roots of Echinacea were used to treat snake bites. But that’s not all. Echinacea was used to treat poisonous insect bites, toothaches, sore throat, wounds, and infectious diseases. Settlers quickly picked up the … Continue reading →