Rudbeckia hirta var. pulcherrima.© Jim Stasz @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database (Accessed 4/2014).

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.