Ratibida pinnata

RHS Plant Profile

pinnate prairie coneflower

Other common names

grey-headed coneflower, yellow coneflower

Synonyms

Rudbeckia pinnata

Herbaceous Perennial

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An upright, stout-stemmed, branching perennial to 1.2m tall, with rough-textured, deeply divided, pinnate leaves. From summer to autumn it bears long-stemmed, daisy-like flowerheads to 12cm across, with bright yellow, drooping ray florets and around a prominent red-brown cone

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Chalk, Loam, Sand

Max Height

1-1.5 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 1–2 years
Max Spread: 0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height: 1-1.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Loam Sand

Moisture: Well–drained
pH: Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun

Aspect: South–facing or West–facing
Exposure: Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H6
Drought Resistance: Yes

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Asteraceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Columnar upright
Genus: Ratibida are biennials or perennials with erect stems developing from woody-based crowns. The flowers have colourful, outer ray florets and a tall, central boss of green, then brown, disc florets
Name Status: Correct
Plant Range: E N America

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in well-drained, neutral to slightly alkaline, moderately fertile soil in full sun. Drought resistant once established. May require support

Propagation

Propagate by seed

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Cottage and informal garden
Gravel garden
Prairie planting
Cut flowers
Flower borders and beds

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free