A big Coneflower for your consideration

April 9, 2025
Larry Hurley
Independent Garden Centers, Inspiration, Landscaping, Perennial Plants
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One of Larry's gardens in Wisconsin, with Rudbeckia 'Herbstsonne'. — New Meadow Garden, including Rudbeckia Herbstsonne, Leucanthemum Becky, Asclepias tuberosa, Echinacea Sombrero Salsa Red ; Hurley Garden, Middleton

I have always been fond of Rudbeckia ‘Herbstsonne’ also known as ‘Autumn Sun’, which would be a literal translation from German. It’s been around for a long time. We were growing it at Behnke’s in 1984 when I started working at the nursery. We also had it planted in our display garden at Largo, MD for years. Because it’s not “new and exciting”, you may have to hunt to find it for sale.

It has drooping yellow coneflowers which are borne for many weeks in mid-to-late summer, on stems reaching seven feet. It forms a tightly spreading clump, and with the spread and the height, it will require a garden with some space.

I bought one here in Wisconsin in a #1 (“1 gallon”) pot and planted it in mid-May of 2023. The photos were taken July 31, 2024, so you can see that it’s a fast grower. The rabbits have left it alone, although they go after some of the other Rudbeckias. I haven’t had much trouble with deer here yet so can’t speak to that. I do spray repellant every few weeks in the growing season. Like virtually all composite flowers (aka, looks like a daisy), it’s best in full sun. It attracts bumblebees and other insect pollinators.

There isn’t agreement on the species. Some say Rudbeckia laciniata, which is native to every state east of the Rockies, some say Rudbeckia nitida, which is native to Alabama, Florida and Georgia. Some say it’s a hybrid. Based on the name, it appears to have been an introduction from Europe.

I’ll throw out my observation that in my experience, Rudbeckia laciniata gets powdery mildew and ‘Herbstsonne’ does not, and although it grows quickly it’s in a dense clump, while R. laciniata is said by the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center to be an aggressive spreader. LBJWC was also the source for the native range information.

Closeup of Flowers, with pollinating insects. — Rudbeckia Herbstsonne; with pollinators; New Meadow Garden; Hurley Garden, Middleton

Larry Hurley

Larry Hurley worked at Behnke Nurseries from 1984 until the business was composted in 2019, primarily with the perennial department in growing, buying and sales.

Before landing at Behnke’s, he worked as a technician in a tissue culture lab, a houseplant “expert” at a florist shop, and inventory controller at a wholesale nursery in Dallas. With this and that, ten years passed.

When his wife Carolyn accepted a position at Georgetown University, Larry was hired at Behnke’s for the perennial growing department and garden center at Behnke’s Largo location.

In 2021, Larry and Carolyn moved back to Wisconsin to be closer to family and further from traffic. After 37 years in a shaded yard in Maryland, he is happy to have a sunny lot where he can grow all sorts of new perennials, if only he can keep the rabbits at bay. He also enjoys cooking, traveling, and the snowblower.