- Coneflower species: how many are there?
- An overview of the most beautiful coneflower types and varieties
Help the development of the site, sharing the article with friends!
Rudbeckias are particularly easy-care and richly flowering perennials for every garden. We provide an overview of the most beautiful coneflower varieties and species.
The Coneflower (Rudbeckia), also known as Rudbeckia, is one of the most popular garden perennials. We present the most beautiful forms of the Rudbeckie.
Coneflower species: how many are there?
The purple coneflower is native to North America and occurs wild in a variety of habitats from wet meadows and savannas to mountainous landscapes. The coneflower genus includes around 20 Rudbeckia species, which grow to an average height of between 50 and 300 cm. They usually form yellow, sometimes red-orange to red-brown ray florets. Typical of the Rudbeckia are the black-brown centers, which set a clear contrast to the colored petals.
Are echinacea and coneflower the same thing? The coneflower should not be confused with the false coneflower (Echinacea purpurea). Both have similar flowers and belong to the same daisy family (Asteraceae), but are not closely related. While the false coneflower is also important as a medicinal plant, Rudbeckias are used exclusively as ornamental plants and in floristry.
An overview of the most beautiful coneflower types and varieties
The various coneflowers differ in their location requirements, growth height, flower color and shape. We provide an overview of the most beautiful coneflower types and varieties for the garden.
Slit-leaved coneflower (Rudbeckia laciniata)
The slit-leaved coneflower shows, as the name suggests, deeply slit to pinnate leaves. The hardy perennials reach a height of over 200 cm. The ideal location for the vigorous and sometimes runner-forming plants is on fresh to moist, permeable and moderately nutrient-rich soil in sunny locations. The best-known varieties of the slit-leaved coneflower form double flowers with a diameter of up to 15 cm and at first glance are reminiscent of yellow dahlias (Dahlia).
- ‘Goldball‘: Vigorous,filled, yellow coneflower with strong formation of runners and large, filled flowers. The variety can reach a height of 180 - 200 cm and is particularly suitable for planting on fences, as this increases stability.
- ‘Goldquelle‘: Stable coneflower variety with a height of 70 - 80 cm and strong spreading through runners. The flowering period extends from August to September.
Parachute Coneflower (Rudbeckia nitida)
The parachute coneflower is a tall perennial up to 200 cm and forms large, light yellow and pendulous ray florets around a green-brown center. It prefers moist to fresh, loamy and very nutrient-rich soil in sunny locations, also at the water's edge. Snails prefer to eat this type of coneflower, which is why it may be necessary to protect the young plants. The flowering period is between August and September.
- 'Herbstsonne': Echinacea with a growth height of 150 - 200 cm. The flowering period of the moisture-loving perennial begins in August.
- 'Julygold': At 180 cm, the yellow coneflower grows slightly lower than 'Herbstsonne' and starts flowering as early as July.
Missouri coneflower (Rudbeckia missouriensis)
The Missouri coneflower grows more filigree than many other coneflower species. The prairie shrub reaches a height of up to 40 cm and forms lily-like, elongated leaves. The radiant petals are bright yellow and hang slightly around the button-like, brown center. The flowering period is between July and September. The Missouri coneflower prefers fresh soil but tolerates dry summers well.
October Coneflower (Rudbeckia triloba)
The broad bushy October coneflower forms dense clumps with a growth height of up to 130 cm. The small flowers with black centers appear en masse in autumn and serve as a valuable food source between August and October in early autumn when there are few flowers. The October Coneflower is a biennial plant that self-seeds in suitable locations.
- ‘Blackjack Gold’: Stable, heavily branched, yellow-flowered coneflowers up to 100 cm high with good drought tolerance. The numeroussmall, sunny yellow flowers attract numerous bees and butterflies until October.
- ‘Prairie Glow‘: About 100 - 120 cm high variety with a flowering period from August to October. Coneflower 'Prairie Glow' is reminiscent of the Blanket Flower (Gaillardia) in its coloring, as it initially forms deep red flowers with yellow tips, which later change to a bronze to orange hue.
Coneflower (Rudbeckia fulgida)
This best-known of all coneflower species can be found in numerous gardens. The densely bushy and fast-growing perennials reach an average height of 60 - 100 cm. The flowering period of the golden-yellow ray florets around their cone-shaped, black-brown center extends from July to October. The purple coneflower prefers fresh, humus-rich and nutrient-rich soil in full sun.
- 'Goldsturm': The popular Rudbeckia 'Goldsturm' is considered to be a particularly flowering and easy-care variety. It is particularly common in cottage gardens and can reach a height of 60 - 80 cm.
- ‘Little Goldstar‘: Small coneflower variety with a compact habit of up to 50 cm. Rudbeckia 'Little Goldstar' flowers between August and October.
Rough Coneflower (Rudbeckia hirta)
The rough coneflower is also called the black-eyed rudbeckie. The approximately 100 cm high and up to 60 cm wide perennials form subterranean, frost-hardy rhizomes from which they sprout again in spring. However, some varieties of the Rudbeckia hirta are annuals and have to be sown again every year. This species prefers sunny to semi-shady locations on well-drained, nutrient-rich soil.
- 'Autumn Colours': Coneflower with attractive flowers in all autumn colors from yellow to orange to deep red. The annual variety grows bushy between 60 - 100 cm high and flowers from August to October.
- 'Cherry Brandy': Rudbeckia with unusual red hues between strawberry and cherry. This perennial red coneflower grows to 60cm tall and flowers between June and October.
- 'Herbstwald': Coneflower with an attractive color gradient from yellow to wine red. The annual to perennial plants grow up to 80 cm high and reproduce by sowing in the bed.
- 'Maya': The small Rudbeckia 'Maya' grows to about 50 cm high and forms semi-double, yellow inflorescences around a reddish-brown centre.
- 'Sunbeckia Ophelia': Compact growing, not hardy variety up to 60 cm, which is particularly suitable for pot culture. Rudbeckia 'Sunbeckia Ophelia' forms large, yellow flowers around a yellow-green center and blooms into autumn.
- ‘Toto Gold’: Dwarf coneflower with a growth height of 35 cm and masses of small, golden yellow flowers between July and September.
Giant Coneflower (Rudbeckia maxima)
The beginner-friendly giant coneflower can grow to 300cm tall and makes showy flowers with a 5cm tall brown center surrounded by slightly drooping sun yellow ray florets. The large leaves are ovate and blue-grey in color. The clumpy perennials are 70 - 80 cm wide and prefer nutrient-rich, fresh to moist soil, also at the water's edge, in full sun to semi-shade. The heyday of the giant coneflower is between August and September.
Feminine Coneflower (Rudbeckia subtomentosa)
The weak-felted coneflower is completely covered with fine hairs. The 100 - 150 cm high perennials show a special flower shape: filigree light yellow tubular flowers, which end in a broader tip. The species blooms for a very long time between July and September and is particularly suitable for planting on sunny woody edges with soil that is not too dry. The best known varieties are 'Henry Eilers' and 'Little Henry' with a lower height of 90 - 110 cm.
Western Coneflower (Rudbeckia occidentalis)
The western coneflower is native to the western United States and does not have colored petals. Instead, the large, black-brown bulbous flowerheads surrounded by green bracts catch the eye. The large, toothed foliage shimmers silvery-green. The perennial reaches a height of up to 100 cm and prefers moist to fresh soil in full sun. The peculiar western coneflower is popular with bees between July and October, despite the lack of petals, and in theused in floristry. The most important variety of this coneflower species is 'Green Wizard'.
Once the right species and variety has been selected for a location, the planting begins. You can find out the most important measures and the exact procedure in our article planting and propagating coneflowers.