Rudbeckia occidentalis 'Green Wizard'
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BLACK CONEFLOWER
Family: Asteraceae
Pronounced: rud-BEK-ee-ah ok-si-den-TAH-lis
GROWING GUIDE
Geographical Origin:
Garden.
Plant Group:
Perennial.
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Mature size: Height: 4-6 ft (1.21-1.8 m). Width: 1-2 feet (30-60 cm).
Flowering period: Late summer.
Flowering attributes: Black cone surrounded at the base by green sepals, on a 3-5 inch flower.
Leaf attributes: Ovate, green leaves.
Growth habit: Clump-forming.
Light: Full sun or light partial shade.
Soil: Humus rich, moist, well-drained soil.
Feeding: Side dress with compost or manure. Fertilize in spring with a complete organic fertilizer.
Propagation Methods: Sow seed at 70°F (21°C); seeds germinate in 10 days. | Divide in spring or fall. | Root cuttings late fall or early winter.
Pests or Diseases: Slugs enjoy feeding on the young leaves of this plant.
Rainy Side Notes
Rudbeckia, the Black-eyed Susan, does not come dressed in autumn colors anymore. Instead, in waltzes R. 'Green Wizard ' with a beautiful, tall, black conehead with not a petal to be seen, just beautiful green sepals at the cone's base. Susan fled the neighborhood, now that the coneheads moved in.
Easy to start from seed, they will bloom the first year provided you sow the seed early enough. My experience with these plants is they need full sun here in our maritime climate. In shade, the flower stems tend to flop over. In full sun the stems grow straight, strong and tall.
The flowers are excellent for cutting, not only for fresh arrangements but also for dried flowers. The tall stately plant can be tucked in behind the border. Its unusual flowers stand unassuming until closer inspection reveals their true beauty. Supposedly, this plant is deer resistant, but as I normally warn—resistance depends on your local herd. My own observations of the plants in my garden reveal that our Pacific Northwest bees and butterflies flock to this rudbeckia when in bloom, while seeds left on the cone heads provide food for birds.
Debra Teachout-Teashon
Photographed in author's garden.
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