Cutleaf Coneflower (Rudbeckia laciniata)

Cutleaf Coneflower (Rudbeckia laciniata)

Cutleaf coneflower is a native, perennial wildflower found across Wisconsin, resembling a sunflower in form and stature. Its branched, leafy stalks rise to heights of five to eight feet, topped by stemmed yellow blooms. Each flower spans two to three inches, featuring cone-shaped greenish-yellow centers surrounded by six to twelve rays that tilt backward.

Ecologically, this species plays a vital role late in the season, offering nourishment to pollinators when few other sources remain. It also serves as a host plant for several insects, including the silvery checkerspot butterfly, wavy-lined emerald moth, and common pug moth.

The foliage varies along the stem: basal and lower leaves stretch up to ten inches and display three to seven toothed lobes, while the upper leaves are smaller, smooth-edged, and unlobed. Thriving in moist, slightly acidic soils, cutleaf coneflower spreads by underground rhizomes and prefers conditions ranging from full sun to partial shade. You’ll often find it growing naturally in prairies, ditches, and open fields.  (SF)