As a native plant, this is largely restricted to midwestern and Ozarkian regions, but it also extends east to western Appalachian regions. It usually grows in thin woods and edges on submesic to subxeric, base-rich soils. In Ky. it is concentrated along the western edge of Appalachian regions, and around in or near the Shawnee Hills. E. purpurea is generally uncommon in the wild, and it appears to be a remnant of brushy or grassy openings on moderately deep soil where farmland predominates or where the woods have become excessively shady. But it is also planted frequently as a "wildflower" and some records from roadsides in parks or in supposedly "restored" areas may come from such introductions. E. purpurea can be treated in a distinct monotypic section of the genus Binns et al. 2002): section Echinacea (2n = 22) versus section Pallida (2n = 22 or 44). It is distinguished by its fibrous roots (versus taprooted); leaf blades ovate with L/W 1.5-5 (versus elliptic to linear with L/W mostly 5-20), more or less rounded to subcordate (versus long-tapered to cuneate); major leaf veins branched (versus unbranched); leaf blade hair bicellular with basal cell cylindrical and distal cell acuminate (versus multicellular); and involucre with 4 series of bracts (versus 1-3). Hybrids between these sections are unknown. There is much variation with purpurea, which has been used in horticultural breeding, but no taxonomic segregates are generally recognized. E. purpurea and some other species of the genus (especially angustifiolia), have had much traditional use for enhancing the immune system to treat upper respiratory infections; active compounds appear to include alkamides and caffeic acid derivatives (Kindscher 1989, LaLone et al. 2007. Barnes et al. 2010). There is evidence to indicate macrophage activation and reduction of inflammation; however, "while there is a great deal of moderately good-quality scientific data regarding E. purpurea, effectiveness in treating illness or in enhancing human health has not yet been proven beyond a reasonable doubt" ( Barrett 2003). There has been much recent interest in cultivation for medicinal uses, but "aster yellows" and other diseases can become a problem (Stanosz et al. 1997, Kaiser et al. 2016). Also, there can be intense browsing by deer (Brake 2013; J. Scheff, pers. comm.).