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Native Plant Society of Texas

Mexican Hat

Ratibida columnifera

Other common name(s):

Red-spike Mexican Hat, Upright Prairie Coneflower, Prairie Coneflower, Long-headed Coneflower, Thimbleflower

Family:

Asteraceae (Aster Family)

Plant Ecoregion Distribution Map

This map uses data from the US EPA. EPA  servers have been offline frequently so maps may not display. We are working on a solution.

Central Great Plains, Chihuahuan Deserts, Cross Timbers, East Central Texas Plains, Edwards Plateau, Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes, High Plains, Southern Texas Plains, Southwestern Tablelands, Texas Blackland Prairies
Broken Red Plains
Chihuahuan Basins and Playas, Chihuahuan Desert Grasslands, Chihuahuan Montane Woodlands, Low Mountains and Bajadas, Stockton Plateau
Eastern Cross Timbers, Limestone Cut Plain, Western Cross Timbers
Bastrop Lost Pines, Southern Post Oak Savanna
Balcones Canyonlands, Edwards Plateau Woodland, Llano Uplift, Semiarid Edwards Plateau
Coastal Sand Plain, Floodplains and Low Terraces4, Laguna Madre Barrier Island and Coastal Marshes, Lower Rio Grande Alluvial Floodplain, Lower Rio Grande Valley, Mid-Coast Barrier Islands and Coastal Marshes, Northern Humid Gulf Coastal Prairies, Southern Subhumid Gulf Coastal Prairies
Arid Llano Estacado, Canadian/Cimarron High Plains, Llano Estacado, Rolling Sand Plains, Shinnery Sands
Northern Nueces Alluvial Plains, Rio Grande Floodplain and Terraces, Semiarid Edwards Bajada, Texas-Tamaulipan Thornscrub
Canadian/Cimarron Breaks, Caprock Canyons Badlands Breaks
Floodplains and Low Terraces1, Northern Blackland Prairie, Southern Blackland Prairie

Plant Characteristics

Growth Form

Herbaceous

Height

1
to
3
ft.

Spread

1
to
1.5
ft.

Leaf Retention

Deciduous

Lifespan

Perennial

Habitat and Care Requirements

Soil Type(s)

Calcareous, Caliche, Clay, Dry, Loam, Moist, Sand, Well Drained

Light Requirement

Sun

Water Requirement

Medium

Native Habitat

Disturbed Areas, Grassland, Woodland

Bloom and Attraction

Bloom Color

Yellow

Bloom Season

Spring, Summer, Fall

Seasonal Interest

Flowers, Forage, Nectar, Pollen, Seeds

Wildlife Benefit

Bees, Birds, Browsers, Butterflies, Deer, Nectar Insects

Maintenance

This drought tolerant native is easy to grow and not fussy about soils. Give lots of space to spread. Or thin as needed in smaller areas, as it could tend to push out weaker species. Reseeds easily. Native habitat: prairie, plains, meadows, pastures, roadsides, pinyon-juniper and ponderosa pine woodlands, disturbed areas.

Description

Blooms May-October. Branched with deeply lobed leaves in the lower part of the plant. Long leafless stalks bear the flower heads. Showy yellow flowers, with red to brown rays, surround a brownish-purplish, spherical or oblong central central disk, said to resemble a sombrero. The fruit is a cypsela: a dry, one-seeded fruit, usually topped by pappus. The foliage has a strong odor that repels deer, but they will eat the flower heads.
Previous Scientific Name(s): Lepachys columnaris, Lepachys columnifera, Ratibida columnaris, Ratibida columnaris var. pulcherrima, Rudbeckia columnaris, Rudbeckia columnifera

References

Learn about how to propagate Texas native plants.

Material Treatment Method Collection References
Seed No Treatment Sow seed directly in the soil in the fall. Usually blooms the second year. Seed is available commercially or can be collected in late summer. Collect seed from several plants to increase the spectrum of color. If possible, collect seed from plants with solid yellow ray petals to contrast with plants with reddish-brown ray plants. https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=RACO3
Seed Stratification Place the seeds in a moistened paper towel, seal them in a plastic bag, and store them in a refrigerator for 30-60 days to mimic winter conditions and break seed dormancy. Fill seed trays or pots with well-draining seed starting mix, leaving some space at the top. Sow the stratified prairie coneflower seeds on the surface of the pre-moistened starting mix, as light aids germination. Gently press them into the soil without covering them with additional soil. Water the seeds gently with a fine mist to moisten the soil without disturbing the seeds. Cover the pots or trays with a clear plastic dome or wrap to maintain humidity and warmth, which aids in germination. Position the pots or trays in a location that receives bright, indirect light and maintains a consistent temperature, ideally between 70-75°F (21-24°C). Check the soil moisture daily, ensuring it remains damp but not waterlogged. Watch for germination, which should occur in 2-3 weeks for prairie coneflower. Once seedlings appear, gradually remove the humidity cover to acclimate them to lower humidity levels. When seedlings develop a couple of true leaves and are easily handled, thin them out, leaving the strongest ones with enough space to grow. After the seedlings have grown strong enough and there is no danger of frost, transplant each prairie coneflower seedling into individual pots or a prepared garden spot with full sun exposure and well-draining soil. Gradually acclimate the prairie coneflower seedlings to outdoor conditions over a period of 7-10 days before planting them out in their final location. Provide consistent watering, particularly during the first growing season, to establish a strong root system. As prairie coneflower is drought-tolerant, reduce watering frequency once established. Choose healthy, mature seeds from a reputable supplier or collect them from an existing prairie coneflower plant after the blooms have dried and seed heads have formed. 1) https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=RACO3 2) https://www.picturethisai.com/care/propagate/Ratibida_columnifera.html

About the Region

2026 Fall Symposium Logo

This low-elevations region of Texas extends inland from the barrier islands, about 60 or so miles, and stretches from Brownsville to Louisiana. In total, it covers about 9.5 million acres, with a high point of 150 feet in elevation. More than 1000 species of plants can be found in this region. On the southern end, species more common in Mexico (such as Sabal mexicana) and Central America occur.

The barrier islands provide us with dune systems, and clay flats to the inland side, which have species found in these areas alone. Many plants here, such as Ipomoea pes-caprae (beach morning glory), can be found throughout tropical regions of the globe. I’ve encountered the same species on the beaches of Guam.

Once inland, vast marshes and wet prairies occur. Occasionally, oak (Quercus fusiformis) groves can be found. Common grasses include species of Bothriochloa, Paspalum, and Sporobolus; eastern gamagrass (Tripsacum dactyloides); and switchgrass (Panicum species). Many rivers and creeks cut through the Gulf Prairies, and along these riparian areas various species of trees, Sabal minor, and other plants adapted to clay soils can be found. Due to overgrazing, farming, and fire suppression, woody species such as mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa) and huisache (Acacia farnesiana), and invasive species such as chinaberry (Melia azedarach), Brazilian pepper (Schinus terebinthifolius), and Chinese tallow (Sapium sebiferum) have increased and displaced our native flora.

Source: Wildflowers of Texas by Michael Eason