Is this simply a somewhat damaged E. purpurea, or an E. purpurea with odd genetics? I grew this from seed from a mixed packet (unlabeled).

Do all the flowers on the plant have a similar look? The two things to be concerned about with coneflowers are aster yellows disease (a phytoplasma) and an eriophyid mite. If other flowers besides that one have a problem then you might want to look those up and compare.

Could be E. pallida: Pale Coneflower (Echinacea pallida)

janinilulu said: Could be E. pallida: Pale Coneflower (Echinacea pallida)

Especially since @sedumzz has uploaded a picture of it to the database

Oh wait, that is not E. pallida. What was sold to me as E. pallida (A different plant than the one I am talking about) is actually an E. purpurea cultivar. I had thought I had moved all of the photos, thanks for catching that!

The other possibility is that it is a hybrid itself. Being from an unlabeled packet, it could be from a bunch of different cultivars, species, or a single cultivar derived from different species and cultivars. Hybridizing re-organizes genes, and different characteristics will manifest in the progeny. You may just have a mutt (not that mutts are necessarily bad...).

Hmm, yes that is what I was thinking, probably mixed genes. I will keep an eye on it. I like the color and look of the flowers.

First flowers from seed are often not as nice looking as ones on the same plant in future years. If you keep it, I wouldn't be surprised if next year it looks somewhat different. Perhaps a more regular flower shape, larger, or even the flower color deepening.

Well, another bloom is opening up!

nice!