Rudbeckia triloba

Author: Kevin F. Wildes

Common Names:(Radford, 1968)


Higher Taxa:(Radford, 1968)

Identification: A Swedish botanist, Olaus Olai Rudbeck, started working with Rudbeckia in the early 1700's. The species Rudbeckia is a native of North America and is the best known genus throughout the world. Armitage decribes the species as follows, "the much branched plants carry small(1.5'' across) yellow flowers with purplish black, raised central discs. Flowers appear about the same time as 'Goldsturm' and last as nearly as long. The basal leaves are obviously three-lobed but the stem leaves less so. Plants seldom listed in perennial catalogs, perhaps because R. triloba is technically a biennial"(Armitage et. al, 1997).

Geography: This species can be found in most Southern states. It is relatively abundant when found. It is usually in large groups. According To Huxley, Griffiths, and Levy, it is distributed widely throughout the Northern Hemisphere and is naturalized to southeastern United States(Huxley et. al., 1992).

Table: North American Distribution of R. triloba



AREASTATUSREFERENCES
North America:Continental United States; CanadaYesHuxley, Anthony, & Levy 1992
Eastern North America:United States east of the Mississippi; Ontario and EasternCanadaYesHuxley, Anthony, & Levy 1992
Southeastern United States:VA GA MS TN KY WVYesHuxley, Anthony, & Levy 1992
Southern Appalachian States:GA KY TN VA MS WVYesHuxley, Anthony, & Levy 1992
Coastal PlainWidespreadRadford, Ahles, & Bell 1968: Jones & Coile, 1988
PiedmontWidespreadRadford, Ahles, & Bell 1968: Jones & Coile, 1988
Blue Ridge MountainsWidespreadRadford, Ahles, & Bell 1968:
Great Smoky Mountains National ParkYesRadford, Ahles, & Bell 1968:
Ridge and ValleyYesJones & Coile, 1988
Cumberland PlateauYesJones & Coile, 1988
Central Arch?-
GeorgiaYesJones & Coile, 1988
Clarke County, GAYesJones & Coile, 1988
Sams FarmNoWildes, Pers. Ob.
Old FieldNoWildes, Pers. Ob.
Wetland?-
WoodsNoWildes, Pers. Ob.
1-Hectare PlotNoWildes, Pers. Ob.

Natural History: Rudbeckia triloba is technically a biennial. It usually is blooming during the months from July to October. In 1996 and in 1997, it was designated a Georgia Gold Medal Winner. "Like other rudbeckias, this species, called three-lobed coneflower, is very draught and heat tolerant. If carefully established, it will grow nicely in both full sun and partial shade as well as poor soils and rocky exposures"(Armitage et. al., 1997)
How to Encounter: R. triloba can be found in woodlands, pastures, thickets, roadsides, and meadows; mountains, and locally in the piedmont of North Carolina, usually on basic or neutral soils. It was not located at Sams Farm ( a local dairy farm)(Radford et. al., 1968)

Go to genus Rudbeckia