Henry Eilers Sweet Coneflower

Henry Eilers is instantly recognizable for its unusual flowers. Rather than broad daisy petals, each golden-yellow ray is rolled into a narrow tube, creating a delicate starburst around a dark brown central cone. The blooms rise on sturdy four- to five-foot stems above softly textured foliage with a subtle vanilla-anise fragrance.

This selection was discovered in Illinois and retains the ecological relationships of native sweet coneflower. Rudbeckia subtomentosa provides nectar and pollen for bees and other insects and serves as a larval host for species including the silvery checkerspot butterfly and wavy-lined emerald moth. Mature seedheads also provide food for birds.

• Plant in full sun to light partial shade and avoid overly rich soil, which can encourage excessive growth.
• Leave some seedheads through winter for birds, then cut stems back before spring growth begins.