Rudbeckia fulgida, the orange coneflower or perennial coneflower, is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae, native to eastern North America.
Description It is an herbaceous perennial growing up to tall, with bright yellow daisy-like composite flower heads.
Growth and reproduction Rudbeckia fulgida spreads by both stoloniferous stems and seed. The seeds are produced in fruits called cypselae, which are long and have short coroniform pappi long.
The ripe seed is a favorite food of finches in winter.
Morphology
Ecology
Habitat R. fulgida may be found in a variety of habitats such as bogs, woodlands, bottomlands, and calcareous slopes.Weakley, A. S. (2015). Flora of the Southern and Mid-Atlantic States. Chapel Hill, NC, University of North Carolina Herbarium.
Phenology This species has been observed to flower from January through September.Nelson, G. PanFlora: Plant data for the eastern United States with emphasis on the Southeastern Coastal Plains, Florida, and the Florida Panhandle. www.gilnelson.com/PanFlora/ Accessed: 29 MAY 2018.
Etymology The Latin specific epithet fulgida means "shining" or "glistening".
The plant is a source of fulgidic acid named after it.
Cultivation There are seven varieties; Rudbeckia fulgida var. deamii (S. F. Blake) Perdue - Deam's coneflower Rudbeckia fulgida var. fulgida Aiton - orange coneflower Rudbeckia fulgida var. palustris (Eggert ex C.L. Boynt. & Beadle) Perdue - orange coneflower, prairie coneflower Rudbeckia fulgida var. spathulata (Michx.) Perdue - orange coneflower Rudbeckia fulgida var. speciosa (Wender.) Perdue - orange coneflower Rudbeckia fulgida var. sullivantii (C.L. Boynt. & Beadle) Cronquist - Sullivant's coneflower Rudbeckia fulgida var. umbrosa (C.L. Boynt. & Beadle) Cronquist - orange coneflower ITIS Report: Rudbeckia fulgida Aiton
Rudbeckia fulgida var. deamii and R. fulgida var. sullivantii 'Goldsturm' have both gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.
Vernalization is beneficial to flower initiation. Recommendations are listed below: 'Goldsturm' - 10–12 weeks at 'Little Goldstar' - 10 weeks below 'Pot of Gold' - 10 weeks at
References