Rudbeckia fulgida (Orange coneflower)

Rudbeckia fulgida is a well cultivated species in gardens around the world. Several varieties of Rudbeckia fulgida are commonly sold today, most which are varieties that do not occur in Virginia. Being selectively chosen to have longer and showier blooms, and cloned en-mass for market, these plants have possibly lost their ability to support pollinators as well as display vulnerabilities to disease like powdery mildew and leafspot fungi.

 

Rudbeckia fulgida var. fulgida is the specific subspecies agreed to most commonly occur in Virginia, though a few other subspecies do rarely occur. These plants are the wild form, Rudbeckia fulgida var. fulgida, which is a fantastic and low maintenance species without losing any of the natural benefits to wildlife.

 

The showy summer blooms attract many different bees, wasps, butterflies, beetles, and moths. The flowers support over two dozen specialist bees, insects which have evolved to rely on the pollen and nectar of the blooms of Rudbeckia and a select few other genuses to survive. Plants of the Rudbeckia genus are a host to 20 insects in our area.

 

Orange coneflower is a member of the Rudbeckia genus that many “Black-eyed Susans” are part of. This name can also refer to Rudbeckia hirta, which is a very similar looking biennial of the same genus as Orange coneflower, however the latter is a hardy and reliable perennial that spreads slowly (3 inches or less a year) by stolons and seeding into a clumping colony. 

 

Its best placement is in the front of a border or meadow, being under 2 feet in height. It is usable in rain gardens as well.