From what I've been able to determine some of our echinaceas, more so the Purple Coneflower but some Black-eyed Susan's too, have a disease called "Aster Yellows".
Aster yellows is a viral-like disease caused by a phytoplasma (formerly called a mycoplasma-like organism). Insects that suck the sap of plants, especially the aster leafhopper. There is no cure, treatment, pesticide or insecticide, to control aster yellows. That's why early diagnosis is crucial. Promptly remove any infected plants from your garden and dispose of them so no more aster leafhoppers can feed on them and spread the disease further.
Reluctantly, I've been pulled the affected plants and putting them in the trash, versus compost, to ensure they're gone so not to infect our others coneflowers.
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