Plant Profile

Cutleaf Coneflower - (Rudbeckia laciniata) herbaceous perennial that grows 3 to 10 feet tall with a tall and lanky appearance. The species epithet, laciniata, means "deeply cut or divided" and refers to the lobed leaves.

The plant prefers moist soil but grows well in medium, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade and is often found in woods, meadows, streambanks, and roadside ditches. The plant tolerates hot, humid summers, but can spread aggressively by underground rhizomes.

To keep the plant under control, divide clumps and deadhead old flowers to encourage rebloom. Cutleaf Coneflowers display 2- to 4-inch yellow flowers from late summer into the fall. Foliage is divided into 1 or 2 pairs of toothed lobes on the bottom leaves, while upper leaves may or may not be lobed. A rosette of leaves that originate at the base of the stem persists as evergreen through the winter, creating an attractive winter ground cover.

Butterflies are attracted to nectar from the blooms and songbirds, especially American Goldfinches, eat the seed in the fall. Native bees nest in the dead, hollow stems, so gardeners are encouraged to cut back dead stems to 12 to 24 inches and allow them to remain standing until they disintegrate on their own. Good for meadows and open areas.