Rudbeckia fulgida var. fulgida (Orange coneflower) Seed Packet

Approximately 100 seeds per packet
Collected & Packaged: 2025
Germination code: C60

Please refer to our germination codes and growing information for recommendations and tips.

Seed treatment recommended: this species requires a minimum of 30 days of cold moist stratification to break its natural dormancy and encourage germination. Alternatively, sow seeds in outdoor containers in the fall or winter, with germination occurring in the spring. If seed is untreated by February, we recommend artificially moist stratifying in a fridge.

Seeds of this species prefer to be surface sown, or covered by a very, very thin layer of soil, sterile sand or vermiculite. A general rule of thumb is to cover them with a layer of soil no more than two to three times their width. However, it's better to plant seeds shallow, and most seeds will germinate even if surface sown.

Rudbeckia fulgida var. fulgida (Orange coneflower) Seed Packet

$5.00

Quantity

Virginia ecotype
Variety: Rudbeckia fulgida var. fulgida
Duration: Perennial
Habit: Upright, clumping, naturalizing
Size: 1 - 3 ft. tall/wide
Flowering time: July to September
Bloom color: Gold yellow, black or dark brown centers
Habitat: Roadsides, fields, forest edges, moist meadows
Moisture: Medium to moist, well draining; does not like to dry out fully
Light: Full sun to part sun; best in full sun, but needs extra moisture
Soils: Clay, loamy, sandy; adaptable
Uses: pollinator garden, front of border, woodland edges, wild meadows, well draining rain gardens

Rudbeckia fulgida, or orange coneflower, is a well cultivated species in gardens around the world. Several varieties are commonly sold today, most which are varieties that do not occur on the east coast. Being selectively chosen to have longer and showier blooms, and cloned en-mass for market, these cultivars have possibly lost their ability to support pollinators as well as display vulnerabilities to diseases like powdery mildew and leaf spot fungi.

The wild type (Rudbeckia fulgida var. fulgida) is the specific subspecies agreed to most commonly occur in Virginia. These plants are the wild form, which is a fantastic and low maintenance species without losing any of the natural benefits to wildlife. They possess no issues with fungal issues or leaf spot.

The showy summer blooms attract many different bees, in particular small solitary native bees. They also attract beneficial wasps, small butterflies, beetles, and moths. Rudbeckia 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.
Seeds sold by WBN as packets are harvested and cleaned from plants grown in our Virginia nursery and wildflower garden. These plants are grown from seed sourced from wild populations. We document the county locality of ecotypes, with Virginia ecotypes often being sourced within 100 miles of Richmond, VA. Some plants that provide our seed stock are sourced from local growers of Virginia (and neighboring state) provenance native species.

Because our seed is harvested, cleaned, and carefully selected by hand, packets may contain trace amounts of chaff and inert plant material such as dried petals, small leaves or bits of stem, and fibers or fluff still attached. This material is harmless to seeds and won't impact germination. We guarantee each packet contains at least the number of seeds listed, usually more.
All sales of plants and seeds are final.

WBN will never knowingly sell plants or seeds that do not reach or exceed our high standards. We want to help you produce strong and healthy plants that will thrive in your garden and support native insects and wildlife. Some species do have lower germination rates or are difficult to propagate by seed, and we will make that known if that is our experience or the experience of others.

Generally it is recommended to sow seeds within 1-3 years of collection. Some seeds can remain viable for decades, especially with proper storage. In most cases, native seeds should be stored indoors in paper or glassine bags or paper envelopes in places with low to average humidity, in room temperature or colder, with limited sun exposure.

Because we collect and prepare seeds by hand, some packets may include chaff and other inert plant material like dried petals. This poses no risk to seed germination, viability or storage. We also carefully account for this additional material when preparing our seeds to ensure each packet includes at least the number of seeds indicated.

Got questions? Ask us! We are aways happy to provide advice on germinating, growing, or planting any species.
Seeds (regardless of quantity) are shipped in a padded biodegradable mailer to protect seeds during shipping. All packets come with a printed booklet of our seed germination codes and growing tips.

Once your order ships, we will provide a tracking number to the email provided at the time of order. Orders are shipped to the mailing address provided at checkout. Please ensure your mailing information is correct at time of order.

We will usually pack seed orders within 12 - 24 hours of receipt and ship within 1 - 3 business days. Items generally arrive within 5 days of shipment.

If you believe that any items are missing from your order, please email us ASAP. Any missing items will be sent free of charge.

Free local pickup of seed orders is possible. Please email us and we can arrange for pick-up.

Rudbeckia fulgida var. fulgida (Orange coneflower) Seed Packet

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