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Coneflowers (Rudbeckia) are popular perennials that set bright accents in every flower bed in autumn. They are undemanding, easy to care for and hardy. Due to the large variety of varieties, there is something for every garden.

In a nutshell

  • originating from North America
  • love sun
  • mostly hardy
  • some need winter protection
  • many varieties have been created by breeding

Beauty from North America

The home of these distinctive sun hats is in North America. There they grow in a wide variety of areas such as savannas, on damp meadows or at altitudes of up to 2,800 meters. Some of them are annuals or biannuals, but are generally perennial and hardy plants. In this country, too, they decorate many gardens from midsummer to autumn. They are mainly cultivated as ornamental plants. In addition, they are also grateful cut flowers that last quite a long time in the vase. Sun hats in the garden are a true paradise for bees and butterflies. Rudbeckia are quite undemanding, but a few things should still be considered:

  • Location: sunny to semi-shady, warm, sheltered from the wind
  • Soil: permeable, rich in humus and nutrients, moist

Notice: Rudbeckia can be perfectly integrated into the perennial border. They thrive alongside scented nettles, ornamental grasses, echinacea, zinnias and monkshood. The coneflowers also cut a fine figure directly at the edge of a wood.

Popular varieties of Rudbeckia

The Rudbeckia genus includes over 20 different species. As early as the 17th century, individual varieties were cultivated as ornamental plants in France and England. Through continuous breeding, countless other varieties have now emerged. Below is a list of the most popular varieties.

Rudbeckia fulgida 'City Garden'

  • Growth height: 30 to 40 cm
  • Flowers: 25 mm in diameter, radiating, deep yellow with a dark brown center
  • Flowering period: July to October
  • Planting distance: 30 to 40 cm, 5 plants per m²
  • Hardiness: -23.4 °C to -17.8 °C (Zone 6)

Rudbeckia fulgida 'Early Bird Gold'

  • Synonym: Magnificent Coneflower "Early Bird Gold"
  • Growth height: 50 to 60 cm
  • Flowers: radiating, very profusely flowering, dark yellow with a deep black eye
  • Flowering time: July to October/November
  • Planting distance: 50 to 60 cm, 3 to 4 plants per m²
  • Hardiness: -23.4 °C to -17.8 °C (Zone 6)

Notice: This variety is best suited for pot cultivation.

Rudbeckia fulgida var. deamii

Source: Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz, Rudbeckia fulgida var. deamii kz2, edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
  • Synonym: Deams sun hat
  • Growth height: 80 to 100 cm
  • Flowers: Cup-like, golden yellow with a black centre
  • Flowering period: August to September
  • Planting distance: 60 cm, 2 plants per m²
  • Hardiness: -34.5 °C to -28.9 °C (zone 4)

Rudbeckia fulgida var. speciosa

Source: Photo by David J. Stang, Rudbeckia fulgida speciosa 1zz, edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
  • Growth height: 50 to 100 cm
  • Flowers: simple, bowl-shaped, 5 to 10 cm in diameter, golden yellow with a dark brown to black center
  • Flowering period: July to September/October
  • Planting distance: 60 to 80 cm, 2 to 3 plants per m²
  • Hardiness: -34.5°C to -28.9°C (Zone 4)

Rudbeckia fulgida var. sullivantii "Gold Storm"

  • Synonym: Magnificent Coneflower "Gold Storm"
  • Growth height: 60 to 80 cm
  • Flowers: 5 to 10 cm in diameter, simple, cup-like, golden yellow, black eye
  • Flowering period: August to October
  • Planting distance: 40 to 60 cm, 3 to 4 plants per m²
  • Hardiness: -34.5 °C to -28.9 °C (zone 4)

Notice: This variety also grows well in partial shade. It is also a popular dried flower.

Hardy Rubeckia

Rudbeckia fulgida var. sullivantii "Little Goldstar"

  • Synonym: Magnificent Coneflower "Little Goldstar"
  • Growth height: 40 to 50 cm
  • Flowers: Plate-shaped, bright golden yellow with a large, round and black center
  • Flowering period: August to October
  • Planting distance: 40 cm, 4 to 6 plants per m²
  • Hardiness: -34.5 °C to -28.9 °C (zone 4)

Notice: Do not cut back after flowering, the seeds contained in the dark center are good winter food for wild birds.

Rudbeckia hirta "Autumn Colors"

  • Growth height: 50 to 60 cm
  • Flowers: simple, basket-like, 15 cm in diameter, brown eye, shades of orange, red or brown
  • Flowering period: July to October
  • Planting distance: 30 to 40 cm, 5 plants per m²
  • Winter hardiness: conditionally hardy, tolerates frost down to -7°C, winter protection necessary

Rudbeckia hirta "Cherry Brandy"

  • Synonym: Rough Coneflower "Cherry Brandy"
  • Growth height: 60 cm
  • Flowers: Large, dark brown and convex flower base, flower color is cherry red to dark red
  • Flowering period: June to October
  • Planting distance: 30 to 40 cm, 8 plants per m²
  • Winter hardiness: tolerates frost down to -7 °C, winter protection appropriate

Rudbeckia hirta 'Kissing Smiley'

  • Growth height: 50 to 70 cm
  • Flowers: 10 to 15 cm in diameter, velvety basket-like flowers, brown-red, red, yellow, red-brown eye
  • Flowering period: June to October
  • Planting distance: 40 to 50 cm, 7 plants per m²
  • Winter hardiness: tolerates frost down to -10 °C, winter protection appropriate

Rudbeckia hirta 'Prairie Sun'

  • Growth height: 60 to 100 cm
  • Flowers: Wheel-shaped inflorescences, in racemes, orange-yellow with a brown center
  • Flowering period: May to September
  • Planting distance: 60 to 80 cm, 3 plants per m²
  • Winter hardiness: tolerates frost down to -10 °C, light winter protection necessary

Rudbeckia laciniata 'Goldball'

  • Synonym: filled coneflower "Goldball"
  • Growth height: 180 to 200 cm
  • flowers: filled, ball-like, golden yellow
  • Flowering period: August to October
  • Planting distance: 90 cm, 1 plant per m²
  • Hardiness: -40.1 °C to -34.5 °C (Zone3)

Notice: The new shoot must be protected from snails.

Cold-resistant Rudbeckia varieties

Rudbeckia laciniata "Goldquelle"

  • Synonym: filled coneflower "Goldquelle"
  • Growth height: 70 to 80 cm
  • Flowers: large, pompom-like, full, lemon-yellow
  • Flowering period: July to September
  • Planting distance: 60 cm, 2 plants per m²
  • Hardiness: -40.1 °C to -34.5 °C (zone 3)

Rudbeckia maxima

  • Synonym: giant coneflower
  • Growth height: 200 to 300 cm
  • Flowers: Cup-shaped, pendent ray-flowers, yellow, in the middle initially green, later brown cone
  • Flowering period: August to September
  • Planting distance: 70 cm, 2 plants per m²
  • Hardiness: -23.4 °C to -17.8 °C (Zone 6)

Rudbeckia missouriensis

  • Synonym: Missouri coneflower
  • Growth height: 40 cm
  • Flowers: Umbrella-like, bright yellow with a black eye
  • Flowering period: July to September
  • Planting distance: 50 cm, 4 plants per m²
  • Hardiness: -28.8 °C to -23.4 °C (zone 5)

Rudbeckia nitida "Autumn Sun"

Source: John J. Mosesso, Rudbeckianitida, edited from Plantopedia, CC0 1.0
  • Synonym: parachute sun hat "autumn sun"
  • Growth height: 150 to 200 cm
  • Flowers: Large, radiating, slightly hanging ray florets, lemon yellow, greenish brown and conical center
  • Flowering period: August to September
  • Planting distance: 80 cm, m² 1 to 3 pieces
  • Hardiness: -40.1 °C to -34.5 °C (zone 3)

Rudbeckia nitida "Julygold"

  • Synonym: "Julygold" parachute sun hat
  • Growth height: 150 to 200 cm
  • flowers: umbrella-like, golden yellow, greenish centre
  • Flowering period: July to August
  • Planting distance: 80 to 90 cm, 1 to 2 plants per m²
  • Hardiness: -40.1 °C to - 34.5 °C (Zone 3)

Rudbeckia occidentalis "Green Wizard"

  • Synonym: Western Coneflower "Green Wizard"
  • Growth height: 100 cm
  • flowers: no ray florets present, columnar, black-brown heads surrounded by green bracts
  • Flowering period: July to October
  • Planting distance: 50 cm, 4 plants per m²
  • Hardiness: -23.4 °C to -17.8 °C (Zone 6)

Rudbeckia subtomentosa "Henry Eilers"

  • Synonym: Black felt coneflower "Henry Eilers"
  • Growth height: 100 to 150 cm
  • Flowers: Plate-shaped, strong yellow tubular flowers ending in small, broad tongues, dark brown, convex center
  • Flowering period: July to September
  • Planting distance: 50 cm, 3 plants per m²
  • Hardiness: -28.8 °C to -23.4 °C (zone 5)

Undemanding Rubeckia

Rudbeckia subtomentosa 'Little Henry'

  • Synonym: Black felt coneflower "Little Henry"
  • Growth height: 80 cm
  • flowers: cup-like, yellow, dark brown eye
  • Flowering period: July to September
  • Planting distance: 40 to 50 cm, 1 to 3 plants per m²
  • Hardiness: -28.8 °C to - 23.4 °C (Zone 5)

Rudbeckia subtomentosa 'Loofahsa Wheaten Gold'

  • Growth height: 140 to 150 cm
  • Flowers: large, yellow ray-flowers, black-brown center
  • Flowering period: July to September/October
  • Planting distance: 80 cm, 1 to 2 plants per m²
  • Hardiness: -28.8 °C to - 23.4 °C (Zone 5)

Rudbeckia triloba

  • Synonym: October coneflower
  • Growth height: 100 to 120 cm
  • flowers: cup-like, deep yellow, black eye
  • Flowering period: August to October
  • Planting distance: 60 cm, 2 plants per m²
  • Hardiness: -28.8 °C to -23.4 °C (Zone 5)

Rudbeckia triloba 'Blackjack Gold'

  • Synonym: October coneflower "Blackjack Gold"
  • Growth height: 100 cm
  • Flowers: round, large, golden yellow with a black eye
  • Flowering period: August to October
  • Planting distance: 60 cm, 2 plants per m²
  • Hardiness: -28.8 °C to -23.4 °C (Zone 5)

Notice: This variety has good drought resistance.

Rudbeckia triloba 'Prairie Glow'

  • Synonym: October Coneflower "Prairie Glow"
  • Growth height: 100 to 120 cm
  • Flowers: simple, plate-shaped, yellowish-red with a black eye while flowering, bronze-colored to deep red when fading
  • Flowering period: July to September/October
  • Planting distance: 60 cm, 2 plants per m²
  • Hardiness: -28.8°C to -23.4°C (zone 5)

frequently asked Questions

What is the difference between Rudbeckia and Echinacea?

Both perennials are called coneflowers. However, due to botanical differences, they belong to two different plant genera. They make it easy to distinguish between the plants on the base of the respective flower. It is curved, smooth and soft in Rudbeckia and prickly in Echinacea.

What should be considered when caring for Rudbeckia?

Normally, these colorful perennials are quite undemanding. Once established, not much maintenance is required. Regular watering is required during very hot dry periods. Furthermore, the soil should be loosened a little at intervals and an organic fertilizer is appropriate in spring. In addition, withered flowers should always be removed, as this will stimulate renewed flowering.

What are the ways to propagate coneflowers?

The most common method is a fall division after flowering. However, the plant should only be divided every three to four years. In addition, sowing in April/May directly outdoors or in seed pots is also possible. Cuttings can also be propagated. To do this, a cutting with at least three pairs of leaves is placed three centimeters deep in a pot with potting soil and kept moderately moist.

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