Butterfly Plants: Rudbeckia

Rudbeckia is also known as Black Eyed Susan, Brown Eyed Susan, Conedisk Sunflower, Gloriosa Daisy and more. By any name, it's just as sweet! Rudbeckia is simple to grow, attractive to butterflies, and produces tons of bright flowers. It gives you a great deal of bang for your gardening buck, making it an excellent addition to your butterfly garden. [caption id="attachment_540" align="alignright" width="200"]

Rudbeckia is a relative of the Sunflower[/caption]With bright yellow flowers encircling a dark brown cone and a single bloom on each stem, it is not a surprise that Rudbeckia is a relative of the Sunflower. Both plants also have long stems with bristled stems and leaves. Like the Sun Flower, Rudbeckia is perfect for cutting. It comes in a variety of sizes and can last for several days in arrangements, up to a week or more. The simple shape and consistent coloring make Rudbeckia a nice accent flower. It comes in shades of yellow, red, and orange; from bright summer shades to deeper autumnal hues. Adding Rudbeckia is a great way to bring cheerful color and, of course, butterflies to your garden. [caption id="attachment_539" align="alignleft" width="202"]

Rudbeckia attracts butterflies[/caption]Another feature that makes Rudbeckia ideal for home landscaping is the minimal attention it requires to thrive. It can be planted in full or partial sun and doesn't require very much water or maintenance. While not necessary, you can deadhead the spent flowers on each stem to allow them to bloom again in the same season. Rudbeckia will also self-seed and spread easily once it is established. You can split them apart if it begins to outgrow the space, but it isn't needed. Simple and low-maintenance, but providing hearty blooms, this plant is an easy addition to your landscape. The thing that makes Rudbeckia a wonderful plant for butterfly gardening is the variety of butterflies that are attracted to it. Several species of butterflies are attracted to the nectar and to the petals, which have a pattern that is undetectable to the human eye, but visible to butterflies. The Pearl Crescent, Variegated Fritillary, Spring and Summer Azure, and several other types of butterflies feed on the nectar of the flowers. So Rudbeckia doesn't just bring color to your garden with its flowers, but through the lively and varied colors of the butterflies that will visit as well.