Rudbeckia occidentalis
(Western Coneflower)
Rudbeckia occidentalis, CR13 south of Meeker, Rio Blanco Co. 2323
Rudbeckia occidentalis, Lower McCullough Gulch, Summit Co. 8061
Rudbeckia occidentalis, Lower McCullough Gulch, Summit Co. 8091
Rudbeckia occidentalis, White River Plateau, Garfield Co. 5922
Rudbeckia occidentalis, White River Plateau, Garfield Co. 5936
Rudbeckia occidentalis, CR13 south of Meeker, Rio Blanco Co. 2491
Rudbeckia occidentalis, CR13 south of Meeker, Rio Blanco Co. 2331
Rudbeckia occidentalis, CR13 south of Meeker, Rio Blanco Co. 2330
| Scientific Name | Rudbeckia occidentalis | USDA PLANTS Symbol | RUOC2 |
| Common Name | Western Coneflower | ITIS Taxonomic Serial No. | 36782 |
| Family | Asteraceae (Sunflower) | SEINet Reference |
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| Description |
Life zones and habitat: Plains to montane (3300 to 9200 ft.); moist, open meadows and woods, streamsides. Plant: Perennial 2 to 5 feet tall with thick, rigid leafy stems. Leaves: Petiolate basal leaves 5 to 12 inches long; alternate, petiolate or sessile stem leaves 2 tp 10 inches long; blades broadly ovate to lanceolate, not lobed with prominent central vein; margins entire or serrate, hairy undersides. Inflorescence: One or more large dark brown cylindrical to conical or ovoid flower heads up to to 2 inches long, each with 200-500+ tiny 5-lobed disk florets, yellow but turning purplish brown and blooming from bottom to top; no ray florets; leafy bracts below. Bloom Period: Summer to fall. References: American Southwest, SEINet and "Wildflowers of the Rocky Mountains" by Carl Schreier. Note: Some of the images above are from above 10,000 ft., at a location south of Breckenridge, well above the expected altitude range. |
BONAP Distribution Map |
Colorado Status: Native |
© Tom Lebsack 2022
Banner photo: Ten Mile Range and Rhodiola integrifolia (King’s Crown) in Summit County