PLANT NAME
The Swedish taxonomist, Carl Linnaeus assigned the scientific name, Rudbeckia in honor of his botany teacher, Olof Rudbeck. 'Missouriensis" refers to Missouri where this plant is most prevalent.
Missouri coneflower is the common name I hear most frequently. Other common names include Missouri orange coneflower and Missouri black-eyed susan.
Missouri coneflower is in the Asteraceae/Heliantheae family.
BLOOM
Masses of flowers with yellow-orange petals (ray florets) cover each plant. The ray florets are sterile and number about 8-15 per flower. The center of each flower contains the fertile dark brown to black disk florets.
The flowers last well as cut flowers. A single plant will produce many lovely flowers, so a few clipped for your vase won't make a difference. The blooming period lasts over 2 months in late summer into early fall.
The phyllaries at the base of each flowerhead are green and hairy. As the petals age, they develop more of an orange hue- just lovely.
DESCRIPTION
Missouri coneflower is a perennial native plant reaching about 2 feet tall. Each plant arises from a basal rosette that persists through winter.
The stem and leaves are covered with spreading hairs. In fact, all parts of the plant are quite hairy.
In late fall or winter, the leaves drop and the seed heads turn black. They are ripe for harvesting at this time. New plants readily sprout from fallen or broadcasted seed.
POLLINATORS
One of the best features about Missouri coneflower is how attractive it is to a variety of insects. Numerous bees, butterflies, moths, skippers, and wasps feed on the nectar and pollen. Spiders use the flowers to hunt for their next meal and grasshoppers enjoy perching on the flowers.
Below is a sampling of insects (mostly pollinators) I've documented visiting these flowers.
Bees
Wasps
Butterflies
Moths
Other
PLANTS GROWING NEARBY
Clinopodium arkansanum 
Baptisia australis 
Amsonia ciliata 
Opuntia humifusa 
Parthenium integrifolium 
Asclepias tuberosa 
Ratibida pinnata 
Vernonia baldwinii 
Grindelia lanceolata 
Palafoxia callosa 
Salvia azurea 
Allium stellatum 
Silphium terebinthinaceum
There are many glade plants alongside Rudbeckia missouriensis. Some of the most lovely combinations are shown below. For more examples, please review the Native plants growing nearby section.
HABITAT
This is a plant that thrives in the dry, rocky glade habitat. It's usually associated with a substratum of limestone or dolomite. While it may wilt in severe drought, the leaves perk up quickly with rain.
CONSERVATION STATUS Apparently Secure
Rudbeckia missouriensis is only native to 6 states- Arkansas, Illinois, Louisiana, Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas. Its mainly found in the Ozark regions of Missouri and Arkansas. Oklahoma and Louisiana show its status as Imperiled and Illinois shows Critically Imperiled. Natureserve has No Status for Arkansas, Missouri and Texas.
INTERESTING TIDBITS
During winter, the seed heads feed many birds. Below is a photo of a Dark-eyed Junco eating the seed on a snowy day.
