Rudbeckia fulgida (Orange Coneflower)

 Orange Coneflower (Rudbeckia fulgida) Height, Spread: 2-3 ft, 1-2 ft Water/Soil: Moist-occasionally dry, well-drained, clay, shallow rocky Light: Full Sun Bloom: Late summer-early fall, showy yellow-orange petals surrounding a dark brown disk, long-blooming Native Range: Eastern North America Qualities: Attractive to Pollinators, Wildlife resource, Host plant, Drought tolerant Notes: Herbaceous perennial wildflower is commonly found in woodlands, meadows, fields, and roadsides. It provides late-season nectar for pollinators and is a host plant for the Wavy-lined Emerald moth (Synchlora aerata) and the Silvery Checkerspot butterfly (Chlosyne nycteis). Goldfinches love to eat its seeds in the fall and winter. Its hollow stems provide an important over-wintering habitat for pollinators. This plant is best grown in pollinator gardens, naturalized areas, or borders.