Orange Coneflower vs. Sweet Coneflower

I’m often asked about the differences between orange coneflowers (Rudbeckia Fulgida) and sweet coneflowers (Rudbeckia Subtomentosa). At a glance the blooms look quite similar, however both the blooms and plants themselves differ greatly.

Orange Coneflower (Rudbeckia fulgida):

·       Appearance:

·       Daisy-like flowers with orangish-yellow petallike ray flowers. 

·       Spherical to conical, dark purplish-brownish-black center of disk flowers. 

·       Flowerheads are 1 to 3 inches in diameter. 

·       Leaves are medium green, with shallow teeth along the edges (crenate to serrate margins) and hair on both sides that is stiff and appressed (strigose). 

·       Stems and leaves are sparsely haired. 

·       Habitat: 

·       Thrives in a variety of soils, including clay and loam. 

·       Prefers full sun to partial shade.

·       Can tolerate drought conditions.

·       Height: 

·       Typically grows 2-4 feet tall.

·       Other: 

·       Attracts pollinators like bees and butterflies.

·       Has a history of use in herbal medicine for boosting the immune system and combating infections.

·       Also known as showy coneflower (R. fulgida var. sullivantii).

Sweet Coneflower (Rudbeckia subtomentosa):

·       Appearance:

·       Larger flowerheads with longer and more abundant petaloid rays than Brown-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia triloba). 

·       Yellow flowers with dark brownish-purple center disks. 

·       Flowers faintly smell of anise. 

·       Stems and leaves are densely short-pilose, at least in the apical half. 

·       Leaf blade surfaces with sessile glands. 

·       Habitat:

·       Prefers moist, well-drained soils and is a good candidate for rain gardens. 

·       Thrives in full sun and organic soils. 

·       Height: 

·       Typically grows 3-5 feet tall. 

·       Other:

·       More long-lived than Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) and Brown-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia triloba). 

·       Also known as Sweet Black-Eyed Susan or Fragrant Coneflower. 

·       Plants are perennial from rhizomes that produce leafy offshoots.