Mexican Hat (Ratibida columnifera)

Mexican Hat is here pictured in a small prairie own by the IDNR. Mexican Hat is actually not common in Illinois and only small isolated populations exist. Mexican Hat is found more commonly in the Great Plains region and out west. It is characterized by a long column of disk flowers and either maroon, yellow, or yellow with maroon base ray flowers. Here, it has the yellow with maroon base ray flowers.

Mexican Hat actually prefers dry poor soils over moist fertile soils. That is why it can sometimes overtake barren wastelands or dry outcrops where other vegetation does not grow. If other native or non-native vegetation comes along, it will eventually return to its natural population or not persist. It likes to flower in early-mid summer along with its more common relative, yellow coneflower.