Rudbeckia varieties & species: the most beautiful coneflowers

Easy to care for with an abundance of flowers, coneflowers are fabulous additions to every garden. Here is an overview of the most beautiful rudbeckia varieties and species.

Coneflowers (Rudbeckia) are one of the most popular garden perennials. Read on to discover some of the most beautiful types of rudbeckia.

How many types of rudbeckia are there?

Coneflowers originate from North America, where they grow in the wild in various habitats from wet meadows and savannahs to mountainous landscapes. The Rudbeckia genus comprises around 20 different species of coneflower, which grow to a height of anywhere between 50 and 300 cm. Most have yellow ray florets. Rudbeckia flowers also typically have dark centres which contrast against the brightly coloured petals.

Are echinacea and rudbeckia the same thing? Confusingly, both rudbeckia and echinacea (Echinacea purpurea) are called coneflowers. Nevertheless, they are not the same plants. Although they belong to the same plant family (Asteraceae) and have similar flowers, they are not even closely related. While echinacea are important medicinal plants, rudbeckias are used exclusively as ornamental perennials and in floristry.

Overview of the our favourite rudbeckia varieties

The various coneflowers differ in their habitat requirements, growth height, as well as in their flower colour and shape. Here is an overview of the most beautiful rudbeckia varieties for your garden.

Cutleaf coneflower (Rudbeckia laciniata)

As the name suggests, the cutleaf coneflower has deeply slit to pinnate leaves. These hardy perennials reach a height of over 200 cm. They like a sunny spot with fresh to moist, well-draining and moderately rich soil. The best-known varieties of the cutleaf coneflowers have double flowers with a diameter of up to 15 cm. At first glance, they look similar to yellow dahlias (Dahlia).

• ‘Golden Ball’: Vigorous-growing yellow coneflower forming strong runners and large, double flowers. This variety can grow to a height of 180 to 200 cm and is especially suitable for planting along fences to help with the flowers’ stability.
• ‘Gold Drop’: Sturdy coneflower variety that reaches a height of 70 to 80 cm and spreads via runners. Its flowering period is from August to September.

Shiny coneflower (Rudbeckia nitida)

The shiny coneflower is a tall rudbeckia variety that grows up to 200 cm. This perennial forms large, yellow, hanging ray florets around a green and brown centre. This species prefers a sunny location near water with moist to fresh, loamy and nutrient-rich soils. However, as slugs love to nibble on this coneflower species, you may have to take measures to protect the young rudbeckia plants. Shiny coneflowers flower between August and September.

• ‘Herbstsonne’: Also known as ‘Autumn Sun’, this variety has a growth height of 150 to 200 cm. The flowering time for the moisture-loving Rudbeckia ‘Herbstsonne’ variety starts in August.
• ‘Juligold’: This variety is a tad shorter than ‘Autumn Sun’ at 180 cm and starts flowering as early as July.

Missouri coneflower (Rudbeckia missouriensis)

The Missouri coneflower has a more filigree growth habit than many other coneflower species. This perennial is relatively short, reaching a height of up to 40 cm. It forms elongated leaves and boasts bright yellow petals suspended around the button-like, brown centre. The flowering period for Missouri coneflowers is between July and September, and they prefer fresh soil, but also tolerate dry summers well.

Brown-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia triloba)

The broad, bushy brown-eyed Susan forms dense growths with a height of up to 130 cm. In autumn, the small flowers with black centres appear en masse and serve as a valuable food source for insects at a time when flowers are scarce. Brown-eyed Susans are biennial plants that maintain themselves through self-seeding in suitable locations.

• ‘Blackjack Gold’: Sturdy, strongly branched, yellow coneflower up to 100 cm tall and tolerate drought well. The numerous, small flowers attract bees and butterflies all the way through to October.
• ‘Prairie Glow’: Growing 100 to 120 cm tall, this variety flowers from August to October. The colouring of the coneflower ‘Prairie Glow’ is similar to the blanket flower (Gaillardia), as it initially forms deep red flowers with yellow tips, which later change to a bronze or orange hue.

Orange coneflower (Rudbeckia fulgida)

The orange coneflower is the best-known of all coneflowers and can be found in many gardens. These densely bushy and fast-growing perennials reach an average height of 60 to 100 cm. The golden-yellow ray flowers extend from their conical, dark-brown centre. Orange coneflowers flower from July to October and prefer to grow in fresh, humus-rich and nutrient-rich soil and in a full sun location.

• ‘Goldsturm’: The popular rudbeckia ‘Goldsturm’ is considered a particularly abundant and easy-care variety. It is especially common in country gardens and can grow to a height of 60 to 80 cm.
• ‘Little Goldstar’: This smaller coneflower variety has compact growth and rises to 50 cm tall. The rudbeckia ‘Little Goldstar’ flowers between August and October.

Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)

This coneflower variety also goes by the name black-eyed rudbeckia. Growing up to one metre high and 60 cm wide, these rudbeckia perennial varieties form underground, frost-hardy rhizomes from which they sprout again in spring. There are also annual varieties of Rudbeckia hirta that must be sown again every year. This species prefers sunny to semi-shady locations in well-draining, nutrient-rich soil.

• ‘Gloriosa Daisy’: Coneflowers that display all autumn colours from yellow to orange to deep red. The annual variety is bushy and grows from 60 to 100 cm tall. They flower from August to October.
• ‘Cherry Brandy’: Red rudbeckia variety grows to around 60 cm high and has unusually red hues. This perennial coneflower flowers between June and October.
• ‘Autumn Forest’: Coneflowers with attractive colour gradients from yellow to wine red. Both annuals and perennials grow up to 80 cm high and propagate themselves by self-seeding.

• ‘Maya’: Rudbeckia ‘Maya’ grows to about 50 cm tall and forms double-flowering yellow flowers around a red-brown centre.
• ‘Sunbeckia Ophelia’: This compact variety grows up to 60 cm tall. They are particularly suitable for container cultivation, as they are not hardy. The Rudbeckia ‘Sunbeckia Ophelia’ flowers until autumn, forming large yellow flowers around yellow-green centres.
• ‘Toto Gold’: A dwarf rudbeckia with a growth height of 35 cm and masses of small, golden yellow flowers that blossom between July and September.

Great coneflower (Rudbeckia maxima)

The beginner-friendly great coneflower, also known as the giant or large coneflower, can grow up to 300 cm in height. It boasts showy flowers with a five centimetres tall brown centre enclosed by relaxed, sunny-yellow ray florets. Great coneflower leaves are large, oval, and blue-grey in colour. These towering perennials grow 70 to 80 cm wide and grow best in nutrient-rich, fresh to moist soils. They prefer to be near bodies of water and in full sun to partial shade. Great coneflowers flower between August and September.

Sweet coneflower (Rudbeckia subtomentosa)

Sweet coneflowers are completely covered with fine hairs. The 100 to 150 cm tall perennials have a distinct flower shape: fine, light-yellow tubular flowers with broad tips. This species flowers from July to September and is particularly fond of sunny woodland borders with soil that is not too dry. The best-known varieties ‘Henry Eilers’ and ‘Little Henry’ are slightly smaller, growing up to 90 to 110 cm high.

Western coneflower (Rudbeckia occidentalis)

The western coneflower originates from the western regions of the USA and is unusual because of its lack of coloured petals. Instead, the large, dark-brown flower heads themselves stand out above their ring of green sepals. The large, toothed foliage also makes a statement with its silver-green hue. These perennials reach a height of up to 100 cm and prefer moist to fresh soil in full sun locations. Despite the absence of petals, western coneflowers are popular with bees between July and October and are also used in floristry. The most well-known variety of this rudbeckia species is ‘Green Wizard’.

Once you have chosen the right coneflower species and variety, it is time to get planting! For information on plant rudbeckias and more, see our article planting and propagating coneflowers.