Meet the Orange Coneflower
Orange Coneflower | Rudbeckia fulgida
How do you know it’s me?:
I am a small-medium herbaceous perennial.
I grow in a clumping form.
I have daisy-like flowers with a ray of petals around a dark brown center. My petals tend to curve downward and each has a notch at its end.
My leaves are alternate and oval or teardrop-shaped, usually with some serrated edges. There can be variety between my leaves.
My new leaves often have bristly hairs, but mature to be mostly smooth and hairless. My stems are also hairy.
How big do I grow?: 2’-4’ height and 2’-3’ spread.
Sun-seeker or shade-lover: Full sun to part shade.
Where I prefer to put my roots: I can handle all sorts of soil conditions: dry, clay, or rocky. I like a little more water when I’m flowering, but am very tolerant of drought and don’t enjoy soggy soils.
Hardiness: Zone 3-9
Original home: I am native to the southeastern US.
Colors: My flowers are shades of yellow to orange.
When I bloom: Summer to fall.
Wildlife friends: A large variety of pollinators visit me, and birds like my winter seed heads. I am also a larval host to a couple butterfly and moth species.
Flora Fun Facts: I have medicinal properties similar to my cousin, the Purple Coneflower - immune system support and treatment for colds and flus.
More Info: The Orange Coneflower is like a child’s drawing of the sun - a prominent, rounded center ringed by golden rays. It is no wonder that this cheerful bloom is a symbol of encouragement with its face always pointed toward the sun.
A member of the Asteraceae family.
The “fulgida” component of the name translates to “shining,” which may be a reference to its smooth leaves OR perhaps its sun-like qualities.
The sister of the Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta), which maintains its hairy leaves throughout its life, and has a shorter life cycle.
A classic ingredient to a perennial or pollinator garden, meadow, border planting, or naturalized area.
The brown-black fruiting heads remain on the stems into winter, providing food for birds and a bold ornamental effect in gardens.
This plant does spread on its own, and may encroach beyond its designated area if the seed pods aren’t removed (dead-headed). This quality is part of what makes it a great selection for meadows and native plant gardens.
