General Landscape Uses:
Wildflower gardens.
Availability:
Native plant nurseries.
Description: Medium short-lived herbaceous wildflower.
Dimensions: Typically 1-3 feet in height. Usually taller than broad.
Growth Rate: Moderate.
Range:
Widespread in North America south to Miami-Dade and Collier counties, but very rare in Broward and either very rare or extirpated in the wild in Miami-Dade. Not documented on barrier islands in southeastern Florida, but possibly historically present; it grows well at
Pan’s Garden in Palm Beach.
Map of select IRC data from peninsular Florida.
Map of suggested ZIP codes from South Florida north to southern Brevard, Osceola, Polk, and Pasco counties.
Map of ZIP codes with habitat recommendations from the Monroe County Keys north to Martin and Charlotte counties.
Habitats: Pinelands.
Soils: Moist to seasonally wet, moderately well-drained sandy or limestone soils, without humus.
Nutritional Requirements: Low; it grows in nutrient poor soils.
Salt Water Tolerance: Low; does not tolerate flooding by salt or brackish water.
Salt Wind Tolerance: Low; salt wind may burn the leaves.
Drought Tolerance: High; does not require any supplemental water once established.
Light Requirements: Full sun.
Flower Color: Yellow and brown.
Flower Characteristics: Showy.
Flowering Season: Summer-fall.
Fruit: Inconspicuous achene.
Wildlife and Ecology: Provides nectar for pollinators. Attracts native bees and other beneficial insects. Provides seeds and insects for birds.
Horticultural Notes: Can be grown from seed.
References: Nelson 2003
Comments: See also the Florida Wildflower Foundation's
Flower Friday page, and 2-page publication on
planting and care of Rudbeckias in landscapes page.
