Practical
Plants

Rudbeckia laciniata

Cone Flower

a perennial member of the Rudbeckia genus in the family Compositae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Height
2.4 m
Spread
1 m
Fertility
Bees, Hoverflies
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Bees, Hoverflies

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

This plant is reputed to be poisonous to cattle, sheep and pigs[4].

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Edible young stems[2][4][5]. Cooked and eaten in the spring for 'good health'[11][13]. The young stems can be eaten like celery[13]. The stems can also be dried for later use[13]. Some caution is advised, see the notes above on toxicity.

Plant part
Stem

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

A tea made from the root (mixed with Caulophyllum thalictroides) is used in the treatment of indigestion[11][13]. A poultice of the flowers (mixed with Agastache anisatum and Solidago sp.) is applied to burns[11][13].

Product or use
Carminative
Product or use
Poultice

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

A green dye is obtained from the flowers[6].

Product or use
Dye

Environment

Range
N. America - Quebec to Manitoba, Colorado Florida. Locally naturalized garden escape in Britain[7].
Habitat
Stream banks and moist places in rich low ground[14][15].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 3+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerances
high wind
Wind
Yes
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

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[3]. Division in spring or autumn[3]. 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.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Succeeds in an ordinary medium soil in sun or shade[3]. Requires a moist soil[1]. Prefers a well-drained soil[9]. Tolerates considerable wind exposure without support[K]. Plants can be grown in quite coarse grass, which can be cut annually in the autumn[12]. They grow particularly well in long hot late summers[10]. Dormant plants are hardy to about -25°c[8]. Some named forms have been selected for their ornamental value[8]. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer[12]. Plants can be invasive[10].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩

  2. Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00

    ↩

  3. Sanders. T. W. Popular Hardy Perennials. Collingridge 1926-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  4. Arnberger. L. P. Flowers of the Southwest Mountains. Southwestern Monuments Ass. 1968-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  5. Yanovsky. E. Food Plants of the N. American Indians. Publication no. 237. U.S. Depf of Agriculture.

    ↩

  6. Grae. I. Nature's Colors - Dyes from Plants. MacMillan Publishing Co. New York. 1974-00-00 ISBN 0-02-544950-8

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  7. Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00

    ↩

  8. Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Perennials Volumes 1 and 2. Pan Books 1991-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30936-9

    ↩1↩2

  9. Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-86318-386-7

    ↩

  10. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2

  11. Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Houghton Mifflin Co. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0395467225

    ↩1↩2↩3

  12. Thomas. G. S. Perennial Garden Plants J. M. Dent & Sons, London. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0 460 86048 8

    ↩1↩2

  13. Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  14. Fernald. M. L. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co. 1950-00-00

    ↩

  15. Hitchcock. C. L. Vascular Plants of the Pacific Northwest. University of Washington Press 1955-00-00

    ↩

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