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Rudbeckia laciniata

cutleaf coneflower

Asteraceae North America

Attracts Pollinators Attracts Butterflies

Native to North America

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterMedium

HardinessZones 3–9

Overview

Rudbeckia laciniata is a tall, clump- to colony-forming perennial 3-9 feet (90-270 cm) high with branching, smooth, slightly waxy green stems. The lower leaves are large and deeply cut into three to seven toothed lobes, 4-12 inches (10-30 cm) long, becoming smaller and less divided up the stem. From midsummer into early autumn it carries yellow flower heads 2.5-4 inches (6-10 cm) across, each with 6 to 12 drooping yellow ray florets around a raised, dome-shaped greenish-yellow central disc that lengthens as it matures. The heads sit on long stalks above the foliage and draw bees, butterflies, and other insects. R. laciniata grows in moist meadows, thickets, ditches, and along streams across much of North America. It spreads by rhizomes into broad stands and can crowd smaller plants. The tall stems may lean or topple in wind, rich soil, or shade.

Native Range

Rudbeckia laciniata is native across much of North America, from Quebec and the eastern provinces south to Florida and west to the Rocky Mountains and Arizona. It grows in damp, partly shaded ground such as floodplains, streambanks, moist meadows, and thickets.

Suggested Uses

Planted in rain gardens, moist borders, native meadows, and the back of large beds where its height suits the scale. It is used in pollinator and wildlife plantings for late-season nectar and seed. The yellow flower heads suit cottage, naturalistic, and cut-flower gardens.

How to Identify

Cutleaf coneflower is known by its tall, smooth, waxy stems and large, deeply lobed lower leaves, topped by yellow daisy heads whose drooping rays surround a raised greenish-yellow central cone. The pale green to greenish-yellow disc separates it from black-eyed Susans, which have dark brown central cones. R. laciniata differs from sunflowers in its lobed leaves and domed, light-coloured disc.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height3' - 9'

Width/Spread2' - 4'

Reaches mature size in approximately 3 years

Colors

Flower Colors

yellow

Foliage Colors

green

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~10 weeks

Summer Fall

Flowering runs from July to September on tall, branched stems. Each plant opens many yellow heads over a long midsummer-to-autumn season. The central cones lengthen and turn brown as seed ripens, feeding finches and other seed-eating birds.

Detailed Descriptions

Foliage Description

green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 4-12 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.5 - 7.0(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

loam clay silt

Drainagemoist

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

2-3 years

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Grow Rudbeckia laciniata in full sun to partial shade in moist, fertile soil, including loam and clay, at a slightly acidic to neutral pH. It is hardy through USDA zones 3 to 9 and tolerates wet ground and short flooding. In rich or shaded sites the tall stems lean, so an open, sunny position or a cut-back in early summer keeps them upright. Plants spread by rhizome and self-seed, so the colony widens each year unless edges are divided off. Water in drought, since the foliage wilts on dry ground. Dividing clumps every few years renews growth and limits spread.

Pruning

Cut stems by one third to one half in late spring to lower the height and reduce flopping. Deadhead through summer to extend bloom, or leave late heads for the birds. Cut the plant to the ground in late autumn or winter and divide congested clumps in spring.