Fauna
Plant

Orange Coneflower

Rudbeckia fulgida

Also known as Perennial Coneflower, Orange Black-Eyed Susan

Orange coneflowers brighten eastern North American meadows and open woodlands with long-lasting summer blooms featuring rich golden-yellow ray florets around a dark chocolate-brown central cone. Clump-forming perennials spread steadily via underground rhizomes to create dense drift-like colonies that anchor native prairies and rain gardens. In autumn, ripe seed heads become a vital winter food source for resident songbirds like goldfinches.

PerennialPollinator MagnetNative Wildflower
Orange Coneflower reference1 / 7
(c) Mark Pollock, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Mark Pollock · cc-by
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Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyAutotrophic (photosynthetic)
Predators
  • American Goldfinch
  • White-Tailed Deer
  • Eastern Cottontail
ThreatsHabitat fragmentation, invasive weed competition, land development
HabitatsOpen woodlands, prairies, savannas, moist meadows, garden borders
Life spanPerennial (individual clumps live 5–10+ years)
Classification
  1. OrderAsterales
  2. FamilyAsteraceae
  3. GenusRudbeckia
  4. SpeciesRudbeckia fulgida
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
  • Gardening for Wildlife: Leave dried seed heads standing through winter to feed foraging songbirds.
  • Identification Tip: Look for shiny dark green foliage and long-lasting late summer golden blooms.
  • Pollinator Viewing: Visit patches on warm sunny afternoons to watch native bees and butterflies forage.
Related species
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