This is a Genus of about 31 species in the daisy family (Asteraceae) native to most areas of North America. They are commonly called coneflowers or black-eyed Susans. The genus name honors Olof Rudbeck, a 17th-century Swedish botanist. These plants can be annual, perennial or biennial, grow 2-10 feet tall and typically spread by self-seeding. They tolerate full sun to partial shade in dry to moist conditions and tolerate poorer soils. Deadheading can encourage further blooms. The flowers have a raised central cone of disc flowers in black, brown and green surrounded by ray florets in yellow and orange colors. They typically have a long bloom season, are easy to grow and attract pollinators. They are deer and rabbit resistant. Many species are used in prairie restoration, for ornamental use, and by livestock for forage. There are many cultivators available to use in the border of a pollinator/native garden, drought tolerant garden or cottage garden. They can also be used in naturalized areas. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems Video by Andy Pulte for “Landscape Plant Identification, Taxonomy and Morphology” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee. Additional Video - Part of the Native Plant Picks series from the North Carolina Sea Grant-led Coastal Landscapes Initiative .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry
Available space
12 inches-3 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in. | Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect; Spreading
Texture
Medium
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Whorled
Leaf margin
Entire; Lobed
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Green leaves are spirally arranged and ether have entire margins or are deeply lobed. Size and shape vary per species.
Flower color
Gold/Yellow; Orange
Flower value
Long Bloom Season
Flower form
Head
Flower shape
Radial
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
They typically have a raised central cone of disc flowers in black, brown and green shades that are surrounded by yellow or orange ray flowers. Will bloom most of the summer.
Bloom time
Summer
Fruit color
Brown/Copper
Fruit type
Achene
Fruit detail
Has many seeds
Stem color
Green
Stem detail
BGreen stems can be smooth or hairy
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Wildlife value
Host plants to caterpillars of some Lepidoptera species including cabbage moths and dot moths. Pollinators will visit the flowers