fulgida - Orange Coneflower or Black-Eyed Susan () ------ is a perennial primarily known subtle ornamental effect in winter (but this promotes through its extremely popular 'Goldsturm' a copious amount of self-sowing in the immediate that is noted for its magnificent mid- to late-summer vicinity, and they can be deadheaded after bloom to yellow-orange-petaled, black-centered that prevent this potential liability) rise above the dark green basal foliage. Orange Coneflower is commonly seen as a specimen in beds, USAGE in mass embankment or roadside plantings, or Function naturalized in neglected urban areas. -beds, borders, entranceways, raised planters, meadows, or any naturalized sunny areas FEATURES Texture Form -bold texture -small- to medium-sized herbaceous perennial -thick density - form matures at 3' tall x 3' wide, but Assets are smaller -spectacular yellow-orange flowers with black "eyes" -upright clump growth habit in mid-summer Culture -subtle ornamental winter effect of persistent black -full sun to partial shade fruiting heads -performs best in full sun in moist, well-drained soils, -urban tolerant (to drought, thin soils, and neglect) but is very adaptable to dry soils, compacted soils, -naturalizes via self-sowing thin soils, drought, and soils of various pH Liabilities -propagated primarily by clump division in very early -vigorous crown growth and a strong tendency to spring, but also prolific in its self-sowing nature by self-sow will severely encroach on surrounding seeds, forming wide-spreading crowns after 3 or perennials or small shrubs within 2-3 yrs. from the more yrs. of establishment and reseeding initial planting, unless the triple maintenance of -Daisy Family, with spot being the only minor deadheading, seedling rogueing, and crown division cosmetic disease of significance occur on a yearly basis -abundantly available in container form Habitat -prune dead stems back to the ground every late -Zones 4 to 8 winter to allow new growth to emerge unimpeded; -Native to the U.S. however, if self-sowing is to be curtailed, the stems must be sheared back and discarded in mid-autumn SELECTIONS before the seed heads mature Alternates Foliage -perennials of mid- to late-summer flowering known -alternate, dark green, for their dependable performance during hot weather ovate, and sparsely (Heliopsis helianthoides, Hemerocallis, Lilium, dentate, with the lower Miscanthus, Perovskia, Phlox paniculata, Sedum originating from 'Herbstfreude' ['Autumn Joy'], etc.) the crown having -perennials of yellow-orange or golden flowers petioles, but the upper (various species and cultivars of Coreopsis, leaves sessile on the Gaillardia, Heliopsis, Hemerocallis, Lilium, flowering stems Rudbeckia, etc.) -leaves emerge pubescent Variants but become rough to the -Rudbeckia fulgida 'Viette's Little Suzie' - a compact touch by summer, but are variety and cultivar that soon will become a standard not nearly as pubescent or among perennials (perhaps even replacing hirsute as the species 'Goldsturm' in the nursery trade), to 15" x 15", with , the dark green, glossy, basal leaves with raised margins annual "Black-Eyed that form a "cup" along the center of the leaf blade, Susan" having the traditional very showy golden-yellow -basal foliage may be flowers with black centers, but on shorter stems semi-evergreen in mild Rudbeckia fulgida var. sullivantii 'Goldsturm' - winters, but is not while the species form is prevalent (along with other ornamentally attractive species of this ) in meadows of central North and often unnoticed America, this slightly more compact (to 2' x 2') and Flowers floriferous variety and cultivar is an extremely -the yellow-orange ray popular perennial in urban landscaping, having been flowers (petals) surround selected in Germany (and translating as "Gold the black disk flowers Storm"; sometimes incorrectly labeled as (cone-shaped center), at 'Goldstrum') the numerous terminals of the continuously -Rudbeckia hirta - Black-Eyed Susan, Oxeye Daisy, branching stems or Gloriosa Daisy - somewhat similar to the above in -each lasts about 2 weeks, with the overall overall appearance, but an annual (however, it bloom time for about 3-4 weeks anytime from late reseeds itself readily and can be considered a July to early Sept., depending on the intensity of the functional perennial under many wild or naturalizing heat and drought of the season (drought encourages conditions); to 3' x 2', with scabrous leaves and larger early bloom and senescence) flowers, having petals of golden-yellow edges and Fruits red, mahogany, brown, or orange hues toward the -the yellow-orange petals slowly fade to a withered center, with a brown or black "eye" of central disk yellow-brown, which slowly abscise to reveal the flowers black spherical fruiting heads -the seed heads are usually left on the for a