This attractive perennial daisy is towering above surrounding herbaceous plantings in the Autumn Garden.
The Asteraceae, or daisy family, is renowned for bringing late summer interest and colour to the garden, as this one does. Occurring in central and eastern North America, Rudbeckia laciniata is one of 20 species of annuals, biennials and perennials, all of North American origin. Most members of the genus have solitary flower heads, reflexed ray florets and a conical central disc floret as can be seen here in R. laciniata. In this species the central cone has a pale yellow-green colouring when fresh, changing to a deep brown with age. It is an impressive, statuesque plant with erect stems and divided foliage. Reaching 3m in height, it enjoys moisture and tolerates light shade, occurring in meadows, woodland edges and thickets in it’s natural habitat. The young, fresh foliage is boiled for greens by Cherokee Indians.