Common name: Coneflower, Black-eyed Daisy/Susan/Susie
Family: Asteraceae, Aster
Height x width: 2-8' x 2-3' depending on species
Growth rate: moderate to fast
Foliage: alternate, entire to slightly toothed or deeply cut, basal leaves ovate, upper leaves oblong, 3-6" long
Flowers: yellow to golden rays and brown to black centers, 3-4" wide, mid to late summer, on long leafless stems (peduncles)
Hardiness: zones 3-5 to 8-9
Soil: well-drained, tolerates dry
Light: sun
Pests and Problems: downy mildew, rusts, leafspots, powdery mildew, crown rot, leaf gall, smut, aphids, beetles, four-lined plant bug (none usually serious)
Landscape habit, uses: borders, cut flowers, bees and some species attract butterflies, native areas, wildflower garden
Other interest: native to N. America; named for 18th century Swedish botanist Olaus Olai Rudbeck by Linnaeus in 1753 to commemorate his former teacher; should not be confused with other perennial coneflowers Ratibida and Echinacea
Other culture: tall species need staking
Propagation: seed (70,000 seeds per ounce), division, terminal cuttings in summer
Species:
• laciniata (la-sin-ee-aa' tah)--Cutleaf Coneflower, 3-8', zones 3-9, native to much of the U.S. in moist fields and roadsides, often planted as a screening plant in New England, rough stems
• maxima (max-i-mah')-- Giant Coneflower, zones 5-9, 5-8', native to much of the U.S., large leaves to 2' long and 10" wide and blue-green, long black cylindrical cones, propagate by root cuttings
• nitida (ni-ti-dah')-- zones 6-8, native to the South, similar to laciniata only 3-5' tall
• subtomentosa (sub-to-men-to' sah)--Sweet Coneflower, zones 5-9, 3-4', native to much of the U.S., similar to triloba only flowers have faint anise scent, stems are softly downy, and cones are dull purple-brown
• triloba (tri-low' bah)-- Three-lobed Coneflower, zones 3-9,
2-3', native to much of the U.S., basal leaves are three-lobed, usually
perform as a biennial
| Cultivars, other taxa | species | flowers | height | other |
| 'Autumn Sun':'Herbstsonne' | ||||
| 'Gold Drop':'Goldquelle' | ||||
| 'Gold Fountain':'Goldquelle' | ||||
| 'Golden Glow' | laciniata | lemon yellow, double | 4-6' | nitida hybrid |
| 'Goldquelle' | laciniata | yellow, double | 2-4' | |
| var. deamii | fulgida | yellow | 2' | |
| 'Herbstsonne' | laciniata | sulphur yellow, green disc | 6-8' | nitida hybrid |
| var. hortensia:'Golden Glow' | laciniata | |||
| var. speciosa | fulgida | deep orange, 2-3" wide | 24-30" | |
| var. sullivantii 'Goldsturm' | fulgida | deep yellow, 3-4" | 18-24" | very popular |
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