Photo: AfroBrazilian: Aleksandrs Balodis, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Pruning guide · Perennial
Sweet coneflower (Rudbeckia subtomentosa): when and how to prune
Rudbeckia subtomentosa
Sweet coneflower (Rudbeckia subtomentosa) is best pruned in March.
| Pruning months | March |
|---|---|
| Flowering | August–October |
| Good for bees, butterflies and birds | Yes, for bees and butterflies |
| Native to Belgium | No, planted |
Sweet coneflower (Rudbeckia subtomentosa): when to prune it?
In February–March, before the new shoots start.
What else to prune in those months? March
Sweet coneflower (Rudbeckia subtomentosa): how to prune it?
- Cut last year’s dead stems down to just above the ground.
- Cut flowers for the vase just after they open; this encourages more flowers.
- For a lower plant, cut the shoots back by about half at the end of May; it will flower a little later.
How much to cut, and how often?
- One pruning period a year: March.
What does it mean for wildlife?
- Sweet coneflower (Rudbeckia subtomentosa) flowers in August–October, when it attracts bees and butterflies.
- If you only cut back in March, the old stems stand through the winter: insects overwinter in them and birds eat the seeds.
Nearby: related pruning guides
- Brown-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia triloba)
- Cutleaf coneflower
- Giant coneflower
- Western coneflower (Rudbeckia occidentalis)
Plant profile: Sweet coneflower (Rudbeckia subtomentosa) · Pruning calendar and basic rules
This guide is compiled from the Bladwijzer plant profile and pruning calendar.