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Plant Database

Search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. If you are not sure what you are looking for, try the Combination Search or our Recommended Species lists.

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Rudbeckia triloba (Browneyed susan)
Makin, Julie

Rudbeckia triloba

Rudbeckia triloba L.

Browneyed Susan, Brown-eyed-susan, Thin-leaved Coneflower, Three-lobed Rudbeckia

Asteraceae (Aster Family)

Synonym(s):

USDA Symbol: rutr2

USDA Native Status: L48 (N), CAN (I)

A much-branched, hairy-stemmed, short-lived perennial, 2-5 ft. tall. More numerous flowers than R. hirta, with shorter and fewer petals.

 

From the Image Gallery

24 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Size Notes: Up to about 5 feet tall.
Fruit: Fruit is a cypsela (pl. cypselae). Though technically incorrect, the fruit is often referred to as an achene.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Red , Yellow , Brown
Bloom Time: Jun , Jul , Aug , Sep , Oct , Nov

Distribution

USA: AL , AR , CO , CT , DC , DE , FL , GA , IA , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MA , MD , MI , MN , MO , MS , NC , NE , NJ , NY , OH , OK , PA , SC , TN , TX , UT , VA , VT , WI , WV
Canada: ON , QC
Native Distribution: NY to GA, s. to s. MN, w. IA, e. NE & OK; escaping northeastward
Native Habitat: Open, moist woods

Growing Conditions

Light Requirement: Sun , Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Dry , Moist
Drought Tolerance: High
Soil Description: Moist soils.
Conditions Comments: Drought-tolerant and adapts to several hours of shade.

Benefit

Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Attracts: Birds

Propagation

Propagation Material: Seeds
Description: Propagates very easily from seed sown in fall or spring. Large plants with numerous overlapping basal leaves, all from a single woody crown, may be divided in late winter or early spring
Seed Collection: The nutlets turn charcoal-gray at maturity, usually 3-4 weeks after the bloom period. Seeds are mature at this time, but they are easier to collect after cones lose their tight compact stucture. Store dry in sealed, refrigerated containers.

Find Seed or Plants

Find seed sources for this species at the Native Seed Network.

Mr. Smarty Plants says

Native flowers for Door County, Wisconsin
September 02, 2009
We recently were required to put in a new septic system on our vacation property in Door County, WI. This left us with a clearing on our wooded lot where the septic field is now located. The installer...
view the full question and answer

National Wetland Indicator Status

Region:AGCPAKAWCBEMPGPHIMWNCNEWMVE
Status: FACU FACU FACU FACU FACU FACU FACU
This information is derived from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers National Wetland Plant List, Version 3.1 (Lichvar, R.W. 2013. The National Wetland Plant List: 2013 wetland ratings. Phytoneuron 2013-49: 1-241). Click here for map of regions.

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

Native Plant Center at Westchester Community College, The - Valhalla, NY
Pineywoods Native Plant Center - Nacogdoches, TX
Native Seed Network - Corvallis, OR
Mt. Cuba Center - Hockessin, DE

Web Reference

Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter

Additional resources

USDA: Find Rudbeckia triloba in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Rudbeckia triloba in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Rudbeckia triloba

Metadata

Record Modified: 2023-01-13
Research By: TWC Staff

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