Wildflowers of the United States

Home Journal Family Index - All States Photo Albums News About Privacy

Browneyed Susan, Thin-leaf Coneflower, Three-lobed Coneflower - Rudbeckia triloba


Family: Asteraceae - Aster family Genus Common Name: Coneflower Native Status: NativeDicot Perennial Herb
Rudbeckia triloba - Browneyed Susan, Thin-leaf Coneflower, Three-lobed Coneflower. Rudbeckia triloba can be a tall (up to 5' or 6'), many-branched coneflower, with a flower having the appearance of a smaller Blackeyed Susan (R. hirta.)

There are three commonly recognized varieties, with var triloba, so named because some of the lower leaves have 3 lobes, being the most widely distributed. Var ruprestris has somewhat larger flowers, and var pinnatiloba will have 5 to 7 lobes on some of the lower leaves. While the USDA records do not show var pinnatiloba in Georgia, the photos on this page imply otherwise.

Rudbeckia triloba is listed as Endangered in Florida.

Found in:
AL, AR, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, NE, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, SC, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WI, WV

Journal Articles Referencing Coneflower

Leave comments on Rudbeckia triloba at this link.
Rudbeckia triloba

Distribution of Rudbeckia triloba in the United States and Canada:
USDA Map temporarily unavailable.
Blue=Native; Grey=Introduced

Map from USDA Plants Database:
USDA, NRCS. 2017. The PLANTS Database (http://plants.usda.gov, 16 Jan 2025). National Plant Data Team, Greensboro, NC 27401-4901 USA.

Search Our Database: Enter any portion of the Scientific, Common Name, or both.
Scientific name:
Common name:

Example: Enter "lob" in the common name field and you'll get all our species that have "lobelia" in the common name, as well as "sharp-lobed hepatica".

Do a general Google search of the entire site:


#ad

Follow on Twitter
Follow USWildflowers on Twitter



Site: Pigeon Mountain - Blue Hole Area, Walker County, GA Date: 2011-July-16Photographer: Gerald C. Williamson
Nikon D7000
Nikon AF-S Nikkor 55-300mm f4.5-5.6G ED DX
The blossom is one of the smaller ones in the Rudbeckia genus. The yellow ray flowers are up to .75 inch long, notched at the tips. The disk flowers are brown or dark purple. The disk may be up to around 1/2 inch across.
Rudbeckia triloba
Site: Pigeon Mountain - Blue Hole Area, Walker County GA Date: 2011-June-16Photographer: Gerald C Williamson
Nikon D7000
Nikon AF-S Nikkor 55-300mm f4.5-5.6G ED DX
Browneyed susan is a very branched plant, with colorful flowers terminating the many branches.
Click on the photo for a larger image
Rudbeckia triloba
Site: Pigeon Mountain - Blue Hole Area, Walker County GA Date: 2011-June-16Photographer: Gerald C Williamson
Nikon D7000
Nikon AF-S Nikkor 55-300mm f4.5-5.6G ED DX
The reddish main stem of Rudbeckia triloba are grooved and variably hairy. The upper stem leaves are relatively thin and are unlobed (although they may be toothed), and may be on short petioles or even sessile, some of the lower leaves are lobed and on long petioles. Vars triloba and repestris have 3 lobes, while var pinnatiloba has 5 or 7 lobes.
Click on the photo for a larger image
Rudbeckia triloba
References used for identification and information:
#ad
Rudbeckia triloba initially published on USWildflowers.com 2011-07-17; Updated 2017-03-02

Commercial / Cookie Notice

Looking for Wildflowers for a specific state? Check here: