Rudbeckia fulgida var. fulgida (Native)

Common Name
Orange coneflower
Black-eyed susan
Plant Form
Herbs
Duration
Perennial
Max Height (ft)
3.0
Width (ft)
1.0 - 2.0
Growth Rate
Fast
Region
Coastal
Piedmont
Mountain
Hardiness Zone
5, 6, 7, 8, 9

My Native Garden

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Photographer: Laurie Dodd
Licensed under: CC BY-NC 4.0
Original photo: Original photo

Additional Info

Habitat: Dry to moist woodlands, barrens, clearings, old fields, meadows, and roadsides. Frequent in the Virginia Piedmont; infrequent in the mountains and inner Coastal Plain.

Wildlife Value: This plant provides nectar for pollinators. It is a larval host plant to Wavy-lined Emerald (Synchlora aerata) and to Silvery Checkerspot (Chlosyne nycteis). Songbirds, especially American goldfinches, eat the seeds in the fall.

Pruning Guidance
Pruning Time
Late spring (after insect emergence)
Pruning Method
Cut stems to 8–24 inches in spring
Chop-and-drop
Wildlife Benefits
Seedheads provide winter food for birds
Standing stems support overwintering insects
Cut stems retained at 8–24 inches support insect habitat
Pruning Notes
Leave stems and seedheads standing through fall and winter. Insects shelter in and on the stems. In late spring, after several nights above 50°F, cut the old stems to 8 to 24 inches at varied heights. Bees and other insects nest in the cut stubs the following summer. Lay the cut tops loosely in the bed so insects still inside can emerge. Seedheads are eaten by goldfinches.
High Value Generalist
Earth Sangha lists this plant as a "High Value Generalist" because it is easy to grow, occurs across a wide range of habitats and is known to be of high value to wildlife
Flower Color
Gold/Yellow
Orange
Flower Prominence
Conspicuous
Bloom Time
Late Summer
Fall
Bloom Month
August
September
October
Evergreen
Yes
Light Requirements
Full sun
Moisture Requirements
Moist
Average
Soil Texture
Clay
Shallow rocky
Low Maintenance
Yes
Deer Resitant
Yes
Seed or Fruit eaten by wildlife?
Yes
Pollinators
Bees
Butterfiles
Number of Lepidotera Species Genus Supports
20
Top 30 for Pollen Specialist Bees?
Yes
Number of Pollen Specialist Bees that Rely on this Genus
29