Rudbeckia Species, Brown-eyed Susan, Thinleaf Coneflower, Three-lobed Rudbeckia
Rudbeckia triloba
| Family: | Asteraceae (ass-ter-AY-see-ee) (Info) |
| Genus: | Rudbeckia (rud-BEK-ee-a) (Info) |
| Species: | triloba (try-LO-buh) (Info) |
| Synonym: | Centrocarpha aristata |
| Synonym: | Centrocarpha triloba |
View this plant in a gardenCategory:
Perennials
Water Requirements:
Drought-tolerant; suitable for xeriscaping
Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater
Sun Exposure:
Full Sun
Sun to Partial Shade
Foliage:
Herbaceous
Foliage Color:
Height:
4-6 ft. (1.2-1.8 m)
Spacing:
24-36 in. (60-90 cm)
Hardiness:
USDA Zone 3a: to -39.9 °C (-40 °F)
USDA Zone 3b: to -37.2 °C (-35 °F)
USDA Zone 4a: to -34.4 °C (-30 °F)
USDA Zone 4b: to -31.6 °C (-25 °F)
USDA Zone 5a: to -28.8 °C (-20 °F)
USDA Zone 5b: to -26.1 °C (-15 °F)
USDA Zone 6a: to -23.3 °C (-10 °F)
USDA Zone 6b: to -20.5 °C (-5 °F)
USDA Zone 7a: to -17.7 °C (0 °F)
USDA Zone 7b: to -14.9 °C (5 °F)
USDA Zone 8a: to -12.2 °C (10 °F)
USDA Zone 8b: to -9.4 °C (15 °F)
USDA Zone 9a: to -6.6 °C (20 °F)
USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8 °C (25 °F)
USDA Zone 10a: to -1.1 °C (30 °F)
USDA Zone 10b: to 1.7 °C (35 °F)
USDA Zone 11: above 4.5 °C (40 °F)
Where to Grow:
Grow outdoors year-round in hardiness zone
Danger:
Bloom Color:
Gold (yellow-orange)
Bright Yellow
Bloom Characteristics:
Flowers are good for cutting
This plant is attractive to bees, butterflies and/or birds
Flowers are fragrant
Bloom Size:
Bloom Time:
Late Summer/Early Fall
Mid Fall
Other details:
Soil pH requirements:
6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic)
6.6 to 7.5 (neutral)
7.6 to 7.8 (mildly alkaline)
Patent Information:
Non-patented
Propagation Methods:
By dividing the rootball
From seed; direct sow outdoors in fall
From seed; winter sow in vented containers, coldframe or unheated greenhouse
From seed; sow indoors before last frost
From seed; direct sow after last frost
Self-sows freely; deadhead if you do not want volunteer seedlings next season
Seed Collecting:
Allow seedheads to dry on plants; remove and collect seeds
Properly cleaned, seed can be successfully stored
Regional
This plant is said to grow outdoors in the following regions:
Ponca, Arkansas
Carlsbad, California
Nevada City, California
Richmond, California
San Leandro, California
Denver, Colorado(2 reports)
Erie, Colorado
Loveland, Colorado
Sharon, Connecticut
Cordele, Georgia
Plano, Illinois
Greenville, Indiana
Jeffersonville, Indiana
Kalona, Iowa
Hebron, Kentucky
Gonzales, Louisiana
Takoma Park, Maryland
North Dartmouth, Massachusetts
Clarkston, Michigan
Detroit, Michigan
Eben Junction, Michigan
Pinconning, Michigan
West Olive, Michigan
Isle, Minnesota
Minneapolis, Minnesota(3 reports)
Saint Cloud, Minnesota
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Waynesboro, Mississippi
Cross Timbers, Missouri
Frenchtown, New Jersey
Roswell, New Mexico
Binghamton, New York
Cayuga, New York
Greenwich, New York
Olmstedville, New York
Belmont, North Carolina
Elizabeth City, North Carolina
Greenville, North Carolina
Jacksonville, North Carolina
Raleigh, North Carolina
Rowland, North Carolina
Bucyrus, Ohio
Columbia Station, Ohio
, Ontario
Chiloquin, Oregon
Salem, Oregon
Downingtown, Pennsylvania
Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania
Millersburg, Pennsylvania
New Freedom, Pennsylvania
Columbia, South Carolina
Seabrook, South Carolina
Beaumont, Texas
Crockett, Texas
Dallas, Texas
Richardson, Texas
Jensen, Utah
Leesburg, Virginia
Camano Island, Washington
De Pere, Wisconsin
Green Bay, Wisconsin
Lake Geneva, Wisconsin
Racine, Wisconsin
show allGardeners' Notes:
| Rating | Content |
|---|---|
| Neutral | On Aug 12, 2020, RhodyDude from Takoma Park, MD (Zone 7a) wrote: Rudbeckia triloba is a very aggressive seeder and grower. Although technically a perennial, its seeding behavior is closer to an annual. It will flower in the first year from seed. In the first year, it will grow about 3 feet high. In the second year, in full sun in good soil, it will get more than 6 feet high with some flopping. |
| Positive | On Jan 25, 2016, JBtheExplorer from Southeast, WI wrote: My neighbors had a bunch of these in their small front garden. Well, we share a burning pit with them, and one day in Autumn, I found that our neighbor cut them down and threw them in the pit. In other words, I got many, many free seeds! I scattered them along the edge of the fire pit (where invasive weeds usually grow), as well as in my native garden and in other parts of the yard. The flowers look great. Ideally, the plant would be a little shorter, but nature isn't meant to be altered. This is a great plant to add to your yard! It will spread, but that is something I always consider to be a good thing when it involves native species. |
| Positive | On Aug 31, 2011, mrsrudy from Wappingers Falls, NY wrote: I grew this plant from seed by sowing seed directly in the ground last August. It germinated quickly, and grew a few inches tall before winter. I had no idea if the little plants would survive the winter, but sure enough, they were back in the spring after the snows melted. And now it is the following August, one year after planting the seeds, and it is 6 feet tall and covered with yellow flowers. It is a real standout in the garden. It has been blooming for about 6 weeks now. Cut flowers are so pretty. Hope it returns next spring. |
| Positive | On Jun 3, 2010, dijet from Lake Geneva, WI wrote: I've enjoyed this plant in my garden for several years - hops around. This year it's all over the gardens - 3-4 ft. tall and this is only early June! I'm not sure if all the plants will bloom this year, but it is going crazy like I've never experienced it before! I've posted a picture of the foliage - let me know if you think I've identified the right plant - please! |
| Positive | On May 7, 2009, wendymadre from Petersburg, VA wrote: I was given a Brown-eyed Susan eleven years ago, and this would seem to be the same type, except that mine can range in height from three to over five feet tall. It reseeds freely, but the volunteers are attractive and can be given away. It is striking in the garden, covered with blossoms. It's tough and healthy. |
| Positive | On Apr 16, 2008, CurtisJones from Broomfield, CO (Zone 5b) wrote: From your friends at Botanical Interests: Rudbeckia triloba is usually grown as an annual, but it is actually a short-lived perennial in USDA Zones 4-9. (It may come back the following year from roots or reseeding, but is not reliably perennial.) The 3'-6' tall plants bloom from summer to early fall and have masses of petite yellow daisy-like flowers with chocolate-brown button centers. The flowers are so profuse that, in the Undaunted Gardener, garden writer, Lauren Springer Ogden, says, "The sheer profusion reminded me of fairy tales in which a person down on his or her luck is suddenly showered by thousands of gold coins from the sky." A Native American wildflower and 1997 Georgia Gold Medal Winner, it is also called Brown Eyed Susan. You are missing out if you don't have this butterfly... read more |
| Positive | On Aug 6, 2007, bordersandjacks from Seabrook, SC (Zone 8b) wrote: I bought one of this plant and it spread slowly and controlled in an area of my yard that gets about 5 hours of sun. I dead headed it in another part of my yard that has an eastern exposure and gets bright sun until about 2pm. Yikes! It's borderline invasive. But, since I had lots of space to fill and it's so pretty, that's a plus for me. And now in July when other things are looking sad and pitiful it is bright, cheery and in full bloom. Fortunately, it's easy to control, and I give away lots of little plants to friends. We had a mild winter, so I've had this plant in bloom for over a year. |
| Positive | On Jun 20, 2007, kerrydrury from Portland, OR (Zone 8b) wrote: My experience with this lovely plant is that it definitely needs afternoon shade or it wilts. It freely reseeds and pops up around the garden. Though I've read it's a good cut flower, mine don't last as long as I would like. |
| Positive | On Nov 18, 2006, Malus2006 from Coon Rapids, MN (Zone 4a) wrote: This is a interesting plant rarely seen in the plant trade compare to Black Eye Susan and most likely found in wildflower specific greenhouses. I got some little plants last year and they bloomed the following year in late Summer, about August/September. One thing to note: Height tend to vary dramatically depending on conditions. I put one plant in Full sun to light shade (Depends - I don't have sun for any more than maybe 4 -5 hours but afternoon and strong enough to burn hosta foliages) and it grew nearly 5 feet tall with a cloud of flowers while another plant in more shade grew to about 1 to 1 1/2 feet in height with far fewer flowers. This species tolerate more shade than the commonly grown Black Eye Susan - May 2008 - I have seen seedlings grow in woodland shade. |
| Positive | On Jan 18, 2005, LilyLover_UT from Ogden, UT (Zone 5b) wrote: This tall wildflower makes a great companion plant for ornamental grasses like Miscanthus. It's also known by the common name Branched Coneflower. |
| Positive | On Aug 9, 2003, Ladyfern from Jeffersonville, IN (Zone 6a) wrote: Mine grew 5' tall and very bushy and full. The flowers just cover the plant, and I like their shape better than R. fulgida. It starts to bloom later that R. fulgida. |
| Positive | On Jan 22, 2003, poppysue from Westbrook, ME (Zone 5a) wrote: This easy rudbeckia provides a lot of bang for your money. I started plants from seed which bloomed profusely the second year. The third year they failed to return but oodles of self-sown seedlings were left behind. It looks great with ornamental grasses for late season color. |
| Neutral | On Sep 2, 2001, talinum from Kearney, NE (Zone 5a) wrote: A United States native which flowers over a longer period of time than 'Goldstrum' The basil leaves are 3-lobed. The flowers are smaller than other rudbeckias but very prolific. |
