Rudbeckia fulgida explained

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 120cm (50inches) 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 2.2mm4mm long and have short coroniform pappi 0.2mm long.^[1]

The ripe seed is a favorite food of finches in winter.

Morphology

Etymology

The Latin specific epithet fulgida means "shining" or "glistening".^[2]

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

^[3]

Rudbeckia fulgida var. deamii^[4] and R. fulgida var. sullivantii 'Goldsturm'^[5] have both gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.^[6]

Vernalization is beneficial to flower initiation. Recommendations are listed below:

• 'Goldsturm' - 10–12 weeks at ^{[7] [8]}
• 'Little Goldstar' - 10 weeks below ^{[9] [10]}
• 'Pot of Gold' - 10 weeks at 35- ^[11]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Rudbeckia fulgida . Flora of North America . efloras.org.
2. Book: Harrison, Lorraine . RHS Latin for Gardeners . 2012 . Mitchell Beazley . United Kingdom . 184533731X.
3. https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=36770 ITIS Report: Rudbeckia fulgida Aiton
4. Web site: RHS Plant Selector - Rudbeckia fulgida var. 'deamii'. 17 February 2021.
5. Web site: RHS Plant Selector - Rudbeckia fulgida var. sullivantii 'Goldsturm'. 17 February 2021.
6. Web site: AGM Plants - Ornamental . July 2017 . 93 . Royal Horticultural Society . 11 October 2018.
7. Web site: Rudbeckia fulgida, Goldsturm, Perennial . Benary. 2016-12-27.
8. Web site: Jelitto Perennial Seed RUDBECKIA fulgida var. sullivantii 'Goldsturm' Portion(s). www.jelitto.com. 2016-12-27.
9. Web site: Perennial Solutions: Rudbeckia 'Little Goldstar' – Greenhouse Product News. www.gpnmag.com. 2016-12-27.
10. News: Rudbeckia fulgida var. sullivantii 'Little Goldstar' - Greenhouse Management. Greenhouse Management. 2016-12-27.
11. Web site: Rudbeckia fulgida 'Pot Of Gold' – Greenhouse Product News. www.gpnmag.com. 2016-12-27.