Rudbeckia laciniata

This perennial resembles a sunflower due to its tall, branched, leafy stalk. Branched flowers appear at the apex of the stem. Three to four inches wide, these flowers are greenish-yellow and have golden rays that slant backward. As the seeds ripen, their centers become elongated and brownish. Beautiful leaves emerge early in spring and become pinnately dissected.

Dark brown or brown-maroon hemispheres surround orange-yellow, somewhat drooping rays on the blackeyed Susan (R. hirta), an eastern species introduced to many places in the West. There are no scales or crowns on the fruit, and the blades of the lanceolate leaves sometimes have teeth.

Due to its tendency to spread by underground stems, the cut-leaf coneflower is only suitable for large areas. It may need bracing in the garden, but it is a very hardy plant.

Height: 1’-7’
Spread: 1’-1.5’
Bloom: July-October
Light: Full Sun, Part Shade, Shade
Water: Low
Zone: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Origin: Texas, United States