Rudbeckia hirta

Rudbeckia hirta is a native flowering plant widespread across the southeast. It does best in full sun to part shade, in moist to dry soils. It grows up to three feet tall in the growing season and dies back almost completely in the winter. Leaving dormant stems provides necessary over-wintering habitat for pollinators. This plant readily self-seeds areas and creates colonies. Bright yellow flowers bloom in the summer and attract many pollinators. Birds eat the seeds in the fall and winter. This is also a host plant for a few native butterfly species. Rudbeckia hirta works well as a specimen plant in a yard or rain garden.