Rudbeckia laciniata - Cone Flower

Family:	Compositae
Habit:	Perennial
Height:	2.4
Width:	1
Synonyms:
Range:	N. America - Quebec to Manitoba, Colorado Florida. Locally naturalized garden escape in Britain[17].

Rudbeckia laciniata (Cone Flower) is a Perennial which grows to a height of 2.4m and a width of 1m . It has a hardness rating of 3.
Cone Flower will flower in January to April. the seeds ripen from February to April
The flowers from this plant are hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and they are pollinated by Bees, hoverflies

Soil Information

Cone Flower will grow in light (sandy),medium (loamy),hard (clay) soil. It is not necessary for the soil to be well drained.
The soil prefers the following PH / acid levels :
- pH of less than 6, Acidic soils
- pH between 6 and 8, Neutral soils
- pH greater than 8, Basic soils
Cone Flower prefers moist soils

Ideal Planting Locations

Cone Flower can grow in semi or areas with no shade.

Stream banks and moist places in rich low ground[43, 60].

Planting places suited to this plant described below.

• Grows within a woodland garden
• Grows on a sunny edge
• Grows in a shady edge
• Suits a meadow

Cultivation Details

Succeeds in an ordinary medium soil in sun or shade[111]. Requires a moist soil[1]. Prefers a well-drained soil[188]. Tolerates considerable wind exposure without support[K]. Plants can be grown in quite coarse grass, which can be cut annually in the autumn[233]. They grow particularly well in long hot late summers[200]. Dormant plants are hardy to about -25°c[187]. Some named forms have been selected for their ornamental value[187]. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer[233]. Plants can be invasive[200].

Edible Uses*

* See disclaimer
Edible Rating: 1/5
Edible young stems[105, 155, 161]. Cooked and eaten in the spring for 'good health'[222, 257]. The young stems can be eaten like celery[257]. The stems can also be dried for later use[257]. Some caution is advised, see the notes above on toxicity.

• Stem - this often intergrades into leaves.

Medicinal Uses*

* See disclaimer
Medicinal Rating: 1/5
A tea made from the root (mixed with Caulophyllum thalictroides) is used in the treatment of indigestion[222, 257]. A poultice of the flowers (mixed with Agastache anisatum and Solidago sp.) is applied to burns[222, 257].

• Carminative - Reduces flatulence and expels gas from the intestines.
• Poultice - A moist, usually warm or hot, mass of plant material applied to the skin in the treatment of burns etc.

Propagation

Seed - sow April in a greenhouse. Only just cover the seed. Germination should take place within 2 weeks, prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and plant them out in the summer[K]. The seed can also be sown in situ[111]. Division in spring or autumn[111]. Very easy, larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found it best to pot up the smaller divisions and grow them on in a lightly shaded position in a cold frame, planting them out once they are well established in the summer.

Known Hazards

This plant is reputed to be poisonous to cattle, sheep and pigs[155].

Other Uses

A green dye is obtained from the flowers[168].

• Dye - Plants that provide dyes.

Cultivars

'' - No entries have been made for this species as yet.

References

Vascular Plants of the Pacific Northwest.
Hitchcock. C. L.
Author: Hitchcock. C. L.
Rating:
Publisher : A standard flora for Western N. America with lots of information on habitat etc. Five large volumes, it is not for the casual reader.
Date of Publication : 1955

The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Huxley. A.
Author: Huxley. A.
Rating:
Publisher : Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
Date of Publication : 1992

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