# cutleaf coneflower (*Rudbeckia laciniata*) The cutleaf coneflower is a bright yellow flower with unique, jagged leaves. It loves to grow in sunny places and can reach up to 6 feet tall, making it a cheerful sight in gardens and fields. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 15 - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![cutleaf coneflower](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Oohangousou.JPG&width=800) Photo: Σ64, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Oohangousou.JPG) ## Appearance The cutleaf coneflower is a tall plant with upright stems. It has deeply lobed, 'cut-like' leaves and bright yellow ray petals that droop downwards, surrounding a prominent, often greenish-yellow central cone. Its distinctive form stands out in meadows. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Asterales - **Family:** Asteraceae - **Genus:** Rudbeckia ## Interesting facts - Early settlers learned from Native Americans to use its roots for health teas. - Its name 'laciniata' means 'slashed' in Latin, referring to its deeply cut leaves! - Sometimes called 'goldenglow' because its bright blooms shine in the autumn landscape! - The tall green center isn't one flower, but hundreds of tiny flowers packed together! ## Special abilities - **Rhizome Runner:** Cutleaf coneflower can spread through underground stems (rhizomes) that help it form colonies and claim new ground. - **Sun Seeker:** Cutleaf coneflower can grow over 10 feet tall, allowing it to reach above other plants and capture more sunlight. - **Pollinator Beacon:** Cutleaf coneflower has bright, nectar-rich flowers that attract many bees and butterflies, ensuring its reproduction. - **Healing Harvest:** Cutleaf coneflower roots have traditionally been used to make medicinal teas, showcasing its historical value. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 100-300 cm - **Spread:** 60-120 cm - **Flower Size:** 5-10 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late summer to fall - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — collects nectar and pollen - **Pollinates:** [Monarch butterfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/monarch-butterfly) (*Danaus plexippus*) — feeds on its nectar - **Eats:** [American goldfinch](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-goldfinch) (*Carduelis tristis*) — enjoys its nutritious seeds - **Pollinates:** Common eastern bumblebee (*Bombus impatiens*) — collects nectar and pollen ## Traits - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Rapid Growing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/rapid-growing): Rapid growing plants exhibit accelerated growth rates, quickly increasing in size and biomass within a short period. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always look but don't pick flowers, so everyone can enjoy them! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify cutleaf coneflower? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is cutleaf coneflower? 100-300 cm ### How wide does cutleaf coneflower spread? 60-120 cm ### How big are the flowers on cutleaf coneflower? 5-10 cm ### When does cutleaf coneflower bloom? Late summer to fall ### Is cutleaf coneflower edible? Yes ### Is cutleaf coneflower toxic? None ### What is cutleaf coneflower's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Bixby State Preserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bixby-state-preserve) — Iowa, US · Nature Reserve - [Bok Tower Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bok-tower-gardens) — Florida, US · Botanical Garden - [Brandon Road Lock and Dam](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/brandon-road-lock-and-dam) — Illinois, US · Historic Site - [Chanticleer Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/chanticleer-garden) — Pennsylvania, US · Botanical Garden - [Fox Chase Farm](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/fox-chase-farm) — Pennsylvania, US · Historic Site - [Nichols Arboretum](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/nichols-arboretum) — Michigan, US · Botanical Garden [View all places to see cutleaf coneflower](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/cutleaf-coneflower) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Cutleaf Coneflower: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/cutleaf-coneflower)