Rudbeckia laciniata (Cutleaf Coneflower)

The cutleaf coneflower is an oddball among Rudbeckias; it's adapted to grow in partially sunny and moist conditions, occurring most frequently in wet meadows, depressions and riparian areas, and floodplain woods. Its foliage is succulent and fan-like, deeply divided and toothed.

Notably this coneflower can grow well in part-sun to shade, flowering even in as little as 1 hour or less of direct sun. While not strictly a shade plant, cutleaf coneflower can thrive and form large colonies in wet areas with full sun. 

The showy upright stalks of golden yellow summer blooms attract many types of bees, wasps, butterflies, beetles, and moths. The flowers support over two dozen specialist bees; insects which have evolved to rely on the pollen and nectar of the blooms of Rudbeckias to survive. The Rudbeckia genus are a host to 20 insects in our area, including the Silvery Checkerspot (Chlosyne nycteis) butterfly. Songbirds such as goldfinches hungrily eat the still-ripening seeds in late summer and fall. 

Cutleaf coneflower spreads by seed and by short rhizomes to form a patch over time. The plants are easy to dig up and thin or move in the fall or spring. Young plants may need more care in additional sun, and can become drought tolerant once established.

The name Sochan is of Cherokee origin referring to this plant. Early spring leaves are edible, and can be cooked as greens, primarily being used historically as a food and medicinal source by some Native Americans.