Rudbeckia hirta var. pulcherrima is a biennial or short-lived perennial herb, 30 cm to 1 m tall, very hairy.
Leaves alternate, 4-10 cm long, 1-2.5 cm wide, margin sooth to finely toothed, the lower ones elliptic, stalked, upper leaves stalkless, narrower toothed.
Flower head yellow-orange rays disk dark; ray flowers 8-21, 2-4 cm long sometimes with dark base, disk 1.2-2 cm wide, domed; basal bracts of head roughly-hairy, tips pointed; blooming June-Oct.
Fruit: dry achenes, small, no plume or other appendages; fruiting Sept.-Nov.
Wetland status: NL.
Frequency in NYC: Infrequent.
Origin: A prairie plant but apparently native west of NYS (Hough 1983).
Habitat: Open areas, roadsides, often included in wild flower seed mixes used in restoration projects. Intolerant of shade.