Known as coneflowers and black-eyed-susans, the genus Rudbeckia is native to both damp woodlands and dry prairies of North America. It belongs to the aster family, Asteraceae, that also includes daisy, yarrow and lettuce. Most species are herbaceous perennials but some may be annuals or biennials. They are clump-forming, grow 20″ to 10′ tall, and have erect stems carrying coarse, deeply lobed hairy leaves that are 2-10″ long. Terminal flowerheads are daisy-like with drooping yellow or orange ray florets surrounding a cone shaped center of greenish or brown to black disc florets. Rudbeckias are easy to grow and do well in sun or light shade in moderately fertile to average, well-drained soil, and are drought and heat resistant once established. Plants are suitable for the border, and in a meadow or prairie garden. The flowers are good in the vase.
The genus name, Rudbeckia, honors the Swedish father and son, Olof Rudbeck (1630-1702) the Elder and Olof Rudbecki the Younger (1660–1740). Both were scientists and doctors of medicine, and the father was and founder of the Uppsala Botanic Garden in Sweden.
Photo Credit: Wikipedia
The environmental conditions in the Rocky Mountain area have resulted in at least 5 species of native coneflower there, although some may be native to other regions of the country too. The coneflowers described here are native to at least two of the states in the Rocky Mountain area.
Black-Eyed-Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)
Stiff branched stems arise from a basal rosette of lance-shaped, hairy leaves up to 7″ long. Flower heads up to 3″ across have bright yellow to orange-yellow ray florets around a doomed, dark chocolate-brown center of disc florets. The flower heads are attractive to butterflies and other pollinators and the seeds are attractive to birds. The flowering stems are good in the vase.
Alternate Name/s: Brown-eyed susan, yellow ox-eye daisy, brown betty, golden Jerusalem, English bull’s eye, gloriosa daisy
Native Range: Montana, Idaho, Wyoming and Colorado as well as places in the Southwest, Midwest, Southeast, Mid Atlantic, and New England
Habitat: Open areas, prairie, meadows, pastures, plains, savannas, woodlands’ edge
Type: Annual (can be biennial or short-lived perennial depending on the growing conditions)
Height: 24-36″
Bloom Time: Early summer to fall
Bloom Color: Yellow to orange-yellow with dark chocolate brown
Light: Full sun
Soil: Average, medium moist, well-drained
USDA Hardiness Zones: 3-7
Photo Credit: Pandries, Wikipedia
Cutleaf Coneflower (Rudbeckia laciniata)
The light green lower leaves are up to 10″ long and may be deeply divided and lobed while upper leaves are smaller and may be lobed. The daisy-like flower heads are 3-4″ wide and have reflexed yellow ray florets surrounding a dome-like center of 150-3000 green disc florets that turn brown with maturity. The flowers are attractive to butterflies and other pollinators and the seeds are attractive to birds. Plants tend to spread rapidly and are best used in large landscapes.
Alternate Name/s: Green-headed coneflower, greenhead coneflower, wild goldenglow, sochan, thimbleweed
Native Range: Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Utah and Colorado as well as places in Southwest, Southeast, Midwest, Mid-Atlantic, and New England
Habitat: Wet areas in flood plains, along stream banks, and in moist woodlands
Type: Perennial
Height: 2-10′ in the wild, 3-4 in cultivation
Bloom Time: Mid summer to mid fall
Bloom Color: Yellow with green center
Light: Full sun to partial shade
Soil: Average, medium moist, well-drained
USDA Hardiness Zones: 3-9
Photo Credit: Wikipedia
Mountain Coneflower (Rudbeckia montana)
Basal leaves are 5-12″ long, broadly elliptic to ovate, lobed, and may have toothed margins. Thick, rigid, leafy stems carry flowerheads singly or in flat-topped clusters. The flowerheads lack ray florets and consist of a 2″ long cone bearing 200-500+ disc florets that are maroon at the base and greenish above. Leafy bracts up to 1.5″ long subtend the flowerhead.
Alternate Name/s: Montane coneflower
Native Range: Utah and Colorado as well as places on the Pacific Coast
Habitat: Moist open meadows, aspen forests, hillside seeps, along streams
Type: Perennial
Height: 2-6.5′
Bloom Time: Summer
Bloom Color: Marron to greenish
Light: Full sun
Soil: Average, moderately moist, well-drained
USDA Hardiness Zones: 5-?
Photo Credit: SEINet
Western Coneflower (Rudbeckia occidentalis)
Oval leaves with pointed tips and lightly to deeply toothed margins form basal clumps. Mostly unbranched stems carry flower heads that lack ray florets but have a dome-shaped structure up to 2″ long covered with purple to black disc flowers and ringed by pollen bearing stamens. Plants attract bees and other pollinators.
Alternate Name/s: None
Native Range: Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, Nevada and Utah as well as places on the Pacific Coast
Habitat: Moist sites such as mountain meadows, streambanks, and seeps usually at elevations from 4000 to 9000 ft
Type: Perennial
Height: 3-7′
Bloom Time: Summer
Bloom Color: Purple to black
Light: Full sun; tolerates some shade
Soil: Average, consistently moist, well-drained
USDA Hardiness Zones: 3-9
Photo Credit: Wikipedia
Brown-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia triloba)
Densely-branched stems are hairy and carry thin, roughly textured, hairy leaves. Basal leaves are 3-6″ long, may be lobed, and may be evergreen in warm climates. Flower heads appear singly or in pairs on the tips of the upper branches. Each flower head is .5-3″ across and has 6-12 golden yellow ray florets surrounding a flat center of purplish disc flowers. Plants attract butterflies and other pollinators including native bees and are tolerant of heat, some drought, and light shade. Seeds are attractive to birds. Flowers are good in the vase.
Alternate Name/s: Thin-leaved coneflower, three-leaved coneflower, branched coneflower
Native Range: Utah and Colorado as well as parts of the Southwest, Midwest, Southeast, Mid-Atlantic, and New England
Habitat: Prairies, woodland borders, thickets, rocky slopes, and along streams
Type: Biennial or short-lived perennial
Height: 3-5′
Bloom Time: Mid summer to frost
Bloom Color: Golden yellow with dark brown center
Light: Full sun
Soil: Average, medium moist, well drained
USDA Hardiness Zones: 4-8
Photo Credit: Fritzflohrreynolds, Wikimedia Commons
Six states are included in the Rocky Mountains area: Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, Colorado, Utah, and Nevada. The geography is diverse and includes mountains, plains, and deserts, and the climatic conditions are diverse and vary with the geography. Low annual rainfall and high temperatures are typical of some parts of the area, while snowfall and low temperatures are found in other parts and the mountains of all of these states.