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Native Plants of the Southeast

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Rudbeckia fulgida 'Goldsturm'
Black-eyed Susan, 'Goldsturm', Orange Coneflower

Photo by Dominicus Johannes Bergsma

Black-Eyed Susan ‘Goldsturm’ — sometimes called “Orange Coneflower” even though it is neither orange nor an Echinacea — is one of the most popular, tried and true garden perennials. These beautiful golden flowers are easy to grow in full sun (though it can take some shade), in dryish to medium, well drained soils of various types, showing some tolerance of dry conditions when established. Spectacular in drifts, it is wonderfully prolific, making more of itself by seeds as well as through runners (though its seedlings will not be true ‘Goldsturm’). Straight stems make these super-showy flowers excellent for cutting. Importantly in the South, it is heat- and humidity-tolerant and resistant to many pests. ‘Goldsturm’ is a slightly more compact plant (to 2.5′ tall vs. 3.5′) with larger and brighter flowers (to 4″ diameter vs. 2.5 – 3″) than the species or variety. These flowers attract many bees and other pollinators from mid-July through early fall, and birds love the seeds in fall. R. fulgida var. ‘sullivantii‘ was the 1988 NC Wildflower of the Year (NCBG) and received the RHS Award of Garden Merit in 1993; ‘Goldsturm’ was voted the 1999 Perennial Plant of the Year (PPA).

Last Updated: May 30, 2019

Key Info

Scientific Name: Rudbeckia fulgida Aiton var. sullivantii (C.L. Boynton & Beadle) Cronquist cv. 'Goldsturm'
Common Names: Black-eyed Susan, 'Goldsturm', Orange Coneflower
Family Name: Asteraceae
Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
Uses: Perennial Border, Naturalizing, Meadow, Container, Steep bank
Light Requirement: Full sun, Partial/sunny
Moisture Requirement: Dry, Medium
Bloom Times: Jul, Aug, Sep
Flower Color: Golden ray flowers, dark brown disc flowers.
Special Characteristics: Attracts bees, Attracts butterflies, Attracts Hummingbirds, Attracts birds, Rhizomatous, Tolerates dry conditions, Tolerates high humidity, Persistent basal rosette, Good cut flowers, Long blooming period, Tolerates heat, Reported to be deer resistant.

Additional Info

Habit: Upright, hairy, stiff, branching stems arise from a basal rosette, tending to form clumps. Daisy-like golden flowers appear singly on the stems, forming a massive display of bold color which persists from mid-summer to fall.
Height: 1½' to 2½'
Spread: 2'
Growth Rate: Moderate
Soil Conditions: Moist, well drained, to dry; acid to circumneutral; sandy, loamy, clay.
Leaves: Shiny, oblong to lanceolate, hairy, dark green foliage: basal leaves 3-6 inches long and half as wide, with prominent veins, dentate margins, and rounded or cordate leaf bases; stem leaves smaller, almost bract-like, progressively smaller up the stems, with bases narrowing to a winged petiole.
Flowers (or reproductive structures): Daisy-like flowers 3-4" across with 10 to 20 deep golden ray florets sourrounding brownish black disc florets. Individual flowers persist several weeks, then the disc flowers begin to ripen into seeds.
Fruit: Nutlets developing from the fertile disc florets are quadrangular, tapered from base to apex, and glabrous.
Natural Distribution: moist meadows, open woods
USDA Hardiness Zone: 3 to 9
USDA Wetland Indicator Status in NC: FAC
Pollination: Bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, other insects.
Wildlife Connections: Attracts large number of native bees and a variety of other pollinators; birds eat the seed. Reported to be deer resistant.
Propagation: Divide the clumps in fall. Plants propagated by seed will resemble the variety 'Sullivantii' more than the cultivar 'Goldsturm'.

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Cure Nursery is a small nursery propagating and selling native plants for the Southeastern U.S. We are located near the town of Pittsboro, Chatham County, in central NC.

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