Rudbeckia laciniata (Cutleaf Coneflower) brings dramatic late-season height and bright color to moist meadows, stream edges, and naturalized plantings. You get tall, upright stems topped with clusters of drooping yellow rays around a distinctive green to yellow cone, plus bold, deeply cut foliage that adds texture early in the season.
Place it where you can give it consistent moisture. It performs best in moist, fertile, well-drained soil, but it also tolerates heavier soils and humid summers. Grow it in full sun to part shade; in hotter sites, a bit of afternoon shade can help keep plants looking fresh, while full sun encourages stronger stems and fuller bloom.
Expect a mature height of roughly 24-108 inches and an 18-36 inch spread, with the important caveat that it can expand beyond that by underground rhizomes. If you want to keep it in bounds, you can divide clumps, edge the planting, or remove wandering shoots. Tall stems may benefit from staking or being planted among supportive neighbors, especially in richer soil or lighter shade.
As flowers mature, pollinators visit the blooms and birds often use the seeds later in the season. Leave some seed heads for wildlife and winter interest, and consider cutting back stems later rather than immediately if you want to support beneficial insects that use hollow stems.