Rudbeckia triloba L. var. triloba

Three Lobe Coneflower; Brown Eyed Susan; Thin Leaf Coneflower

Herb

Perennial

Vascular

Brown-eyed Susan is a native herbaceous perennial in the Sunflower family (Asteraceae). It can be found throughout most of Alabama, but is particularly common in areas underlain by limestone. Brown-eyed Susan occurs in prairies, on cedar glades, along streams and rivers, in roadside ditches, and around the edges of fields and pastures. It is a short-lived perennial with short rhizomes. Stems are 1-4 feet in height, branched, pubescent, and green or reddish brown in color. Leaves are alternate, petiolate, ovate to elliptic in outline, pubescent, and with toothed margins. The lower leaves are 3-lobed. The upper most leaves are not lobed. Flowers are produced in heads. The heads are arranged in corymbs or panicles. Each head has 8-15 yellow ray flowers and 150-300 dark purple disc flowers. The fruit is an achene. Brown-eyed Susan is available as plants or seed from nurseries. It can be used in a perennial bed or naturalized in meadows or prairies. The plants in flower attract a large number of butterflies and native bees.--A. Diamond

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Native

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