Yellow petals surround a brown-purple central seed head. Bloom are good cut flowers. Plants spread slowly from clumps and grow well in poorly drained clay soil.
Two varieties of this species are commonly available in the native plant nursery trade. Rudbeckia fulgida var. sullivantii is Showy Coneflower, which blooms from July-September. Rudbeckia fulgida var. umbrosa is Orange Coneflower, which blooms from August-September and requires adequate moisture especially when in flower. Both varieties are natively found in stream edge and wetland environments; sullivantii is also found in bottomland forests and along roadsides while umbrosa can also be found in wet cliff environments. Note, linked range map is for the species, Rudbeckia fulgida.

Rudbeckia fulgida var. sullivantii. Photo: Mervin Wallace.

Rudbeckia fulgida var. umbrosa. Photo: Mervin Wallace.