When does sweet coneflower bloom?

Sweet coneflower typically flowers from June through August, with yellow ray flowers surrounding a dark central disk.

What pollinators does sweet coneflower attract?

Bees and butterflies regularly visit sweet coneflower for its nectar and pollen throughout its summer bloom period.

What light and water conditions does sweet coneflower need?

Sweet coneflower does best in part sun with medium soil moisture, though it can handle brighter full sun sites and somewhat wetter or drier ground once established.

Is sweet coneflower a good choice for a rain garden or low spot?

Because it tolerates soils ranging from consistently moist to average moisture, sweet coneflower can work well along the edges of rain gardens or in low-lying meadow plantings.

Is Sweet Coneflower HOA-friendly?

Sweet Coneflower takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Sweet Coneflower

Name: Pollinator Patch
Author: Pollinator Patch

Rudbeckia subtomentosa

Last reviewed: August 2026

Sweet coneflower is a tall prairie forb that blooms from June through August with yellow daisy-like flowers that draw bees and butterflies. It grows well in part sun with medium moisture in prairies, meadows and open woodland edges.

Toxicity unknown

Sweet Coneflower (Rudbeckia subtomentosa) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.

Light

part sun

Water

medium

Size

36"–72" H × 12"–24" W

Bloom

Jun, Jul, Aug

Native to

AR, CT, IA, IL and 15 more states

Pollinators

butterflies, bees

Deer

Resistant (per Prairie Moon Nursery)

Before you buy

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Browse plants for this ecoregion

South Central Plains Eastern Temperate Forests Ozark Highlands Central Irregular Plains Western Corn Belt Plains Driftless Area Southeastern Wisconsin Till Plains Central Corn Belt Plains Eastern Corn Belt Plains Interior Plateau Interior River Valleys and Hills

Sweet Coneflower is a tall native perennial that produces bright yellow daisy-like flowers with dark centers from June through August. This robust plant forms upright clumps and thrives in partial sun with moderate water needs, making it a reliable addition to native gardens.

Growing Sweet Coneflower

Grow Sweet Coneflower in part sun and medium water. Mature plants reach 36 to 72 inches tall and spread 12 to 24 inches wide. Expect low maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.

In an HOA neighborhood

Sweet Coneflower takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: low. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Works well in: backyard only.

Height exceeds typical HOA-friendly range

Wildlife value

The flowers attract butterflies and native bees throughout the summer blooming period. Seeds provide food for birds in fall and winter.

Common questions

When does sweet coneflower bloom?: Sweet coneflower typically flowers from June through August, with yellow ray flowers surrounding a dark central disk.
What pollinators does sweet coneflower attract?: Bees and butterflies regularly visit sweet coneflower for its nectar and pollen throughout its summer bloom period.
What light and water conditions does sweet coneflower need?: Sweet coneflower does best in part sun with medium soil moisture, though it can handle brighter full sun sites and somewhat wetter or drier ground once established.
Is sweet coneflower a good choice for a rain garden or low spot?: Because it tolerates soils ranging from consistently moist to average moisture, sweet coneflower can work well along the edges of rain gardens or in low-lying meadow plantings.
Is Sweet Coneflower HOA-friendly?: Sweet Coneflower takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

These answers were drafted with an AI model from this plant's data. Verify care details with a local expert.

Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.

If something looks wrong

Common plant problems, and what to check first

These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.

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