SCIENTIFIC NAME: Rudbeckia subtomentosa

COMMON NAME: Sweet Coneflower

GARDEN SIZE: 3–5 feet tall x 1–2 feet wide

GROWTH RATE: Moderate

USDA ZONE: 4 to 8

EXPOSURE: Full Sun, Part Shade

WATER & SOIL: Tolerates a wide range of soil conditions and prefers average to dry moisture. Requires regular watering after planting, but is drought tolerant once established.

HABIT (FORM): Upright, non-rhizomatous herbaceous perennial

FOLIAGE: Deciduous; toothed, gray-green leaves with downy undersides; lower leaves are 3-lobed

FLOWERS: Daisy-like yellow rays with brownish-purple center disks, up to 3" across; fragrant with a mild anise scent; blooms July to October

PLANT ORIGIN: Central United States, including Tennessee.

WILDLIFE SUPPORT: Excellent nectar source for butterflies, bees, and other pollinators. Provides seasonal cover for small wildlife and may support seed-eating birds. Host plant for local butterflies and moths.

FERTILIZING: Give a root stimulant or 4-3-3 fertilizer during initial planting, then feed lightly in late winter or early spring with compost or an organic fertilizer.

PRUNING: Cut back to just above soil level in early spring to encourage dense regrowth. Leaving stems, leaves, and spent blooms over the winter benefits native pollinators and wildlife.

TOXICITY FLAGS: None reported

USES: Border plant, container, cut flower, mass planting, cottage gardens, rain gardens, patio containers