Echinacea angustifolia (Narrow-leaved Purple Coneflower) is native to dry prairies.  Echinacea angustifolia blooms late spring to mid summer, growing from 16 to 28 inches tall, with drooping, pink petals and narrow, hairy leaves.  This narrow-leaved purple coneflower's claim to fame is its use in preventing flu and minor respiratory illnesses.  In researching this plant I found something interesting:  Native Americans learned of its medicinal properties by observing elk who sought the plants and consumed them when sick or wounded.  Because of this, Native Americans called this plant "elk root."  (Photo by the Department of Agriculture and in the public domain.  Wiki Commons)  Sun.  Zones 3-9.

Echinacia pallida ("pallida" means pale), or Pale Purple Coneflower, a native wildflower, is similar to another native purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) we see so often in perennial gardens, except this coneflower has pale pink,  drooping, wind-swept petals that are most appealing, with narrow, almost  downy foliage.  Echinacea pallida grows  between two and three feet tall and tolerates dry soil, as it is most at home in the prairie.  Those narrow, spidery petals take my breath away.  Sun.  Zones 5-9.  Quarts.

Native to the Ozarks, Echinacea  paradoxa is a  stunning golden yellow cone flower with drooping petals.    It is particularly suited to the back of the border and prairie gardens and grows to about three feet.   Sun.  Zones 4-9. Quarts.

Echinacea purpurea is always a welcome sight in summer.  This native purple cone flower, with dark pink flowers and a prominent dark brown center cone, grows to about four feet.  (Indians used the stiff bristle dried cones as combs.  Try it - it works.  Sun/part shade; Zones
3-8.  Quarts.

Echinacea purpurea "White Swan" is the
white variety of Purple Coneflower, but "White Swan" grows a little  shorter - to about three feet  - than its purple counterpart, but the flowers are large, and there is the same
prominent center cone.  Its bright color really stands out in the border.  Sun/part shade.  Zones 4-8.