Cutleaf Coneflower (Rudbeckia laciniata)

Cutleaf Coneflower (Rudbeckia laciniata)

A towering, cheerful giant of the late-summer garden. Unlike its shorter cousins, Cutleaf Coneflower brings dramatic height and elegant, drooping golden petals to moist, sunny, or partially shaded spots.

🌿 Key Traits

• Impressive Height: A true "back-of-the-border" plant, reaching 3–9 feet tall depending on moisture.

• Distinct Foliage: Features deeply lobed, "cut" green leaves that stay attractive throughout the season.

• Golden Blooms: Bright yellow rays surround a distinctive green center cone that turns brownish as it matures.

• Wild Elegance: Its long, slender stems give it a graceful, swaying motion in the breeze.

☀️ Growing Conditions

• Light: ☀️ Full Sun to Part Shade (performs beautifully in woodland edges).

• Soil: 🌱 Prefers rich, moist, loamy soils; thrives in areas that stay damp.

• Water: 💧 Medium to High; does not like to dry out completely—perfect for low spots in the yard.

• Hardiness: ❄️ Zones 3–9.

🌎 Ecological Benefits

• Butterfly Magnet: A high-value nectar source for Monarchs, Swallowtails, and Fritillaries.

• Specialist Bees: Supports various native bees, including several species of mining and leafcutter bees.

• Goldfinch Favorite: The dried seed heads are a magnet for American Goldfinches in the fall and winter.

• Larval Host: Provides a food source for the Silvery Checkerspot butterfly larvae.

📋 Quick Stats

• Type: Herbaceous Perennial

• Bloom Time: July – September

• Spacing: 2–3 feet apart

• Support: May need staking in very windy spots or if grown in too much shade.

Photo credit: Katrin Schneider / korina.info