Telling the Difference Between Rudbeckia and Echinacea

14 years ago

Last year at a swap I picked up one of each. They weren't labeled and silly me! I thought I wouldn't have any trouble telling which is which. I *think* I know, but want to be sure. So......

Rudbeckia?

{{gwi:380192}}

Echinacea?

{{gwi:380193}}

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Comments (7)

gardenweed_z6a
14 years ago
My Echinacea is up and it looks more like the first picture you posted than the second. I don't have rudbeckia growing yet (other than WS sprouts) so I can't vouch for that one. I'm no expert on either one but I could email you a picture of my Echinacea 'White Swan' and you could decide for yourself. Is your email address displayed on Your Page?
pitimpinai
14 years ago
The first one looks like a Rudbeckia, could be 'Goldsturm'. The leaves are rounder.
The second is Echinacia. The leaves are elongated. If you transplant them, you'll see that the base of the stems are pinkish.
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I've got 4 seedlings from about 20-25 I sowed. I used the best dirt. I watched the moisture and made sure it didn't dry out. They were in dappled shade and have been through several 85+ degree days. They should have germinated by now if they were going to. I'm not impressed. If they're late, fine, but to not show up at all, they shouldn't have made such a fuss over these things when they released them. My R. "Autumn Colors", R. "Green Wizard", and seeds I collected from various sources have all done great. Even my echinacea are up and planted out. Echinacea paradox is almost as large as the ones coming back from last year. My cherry brandy seedlings, I have to get on my knees to make sure they haven't rotted away.
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Here is an echibeckia pic. If you do want to get pure Echinacea seeds there are many methods on the internet to avoid cross pollination and not having to destroy your Rudbeckia. Good luck :) Cara
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I do not know the distance for bettering your chances, but most insect pollinated plants(especially those that are loved by the insects like echinacea) need at least 1/4 mile to 1/2 to be pure. So for the normal home gardener it is difficult. Having no neighbors growing them helps, but echinacea is popular right now. If you've got no close neighbors, the other thing that would help besides distance is buildings in the way and a lot of other flowers in bloom along the way. So not a straight clear path from one planting to the other. It doesn't guarantee purity, but at least you would have a chance of some true seedlings. When starting White Swan from seed, it is easy to tell of they will be white. If they show red/pink in the emerging stems, they have crossed, and the flowers will be some shade of pink. Remy
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Difference between Rudbeckia cultivar 'Goldsturm' and seedlings?
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Comments (8)
Interesting info and questions raised; includes you can't always trust labelling. 'Goldsturm' is definitely a selection of R. fulgida var. sullivantii. Although all Rudbeckia species are native to North American, 'Goldsturm' was selected from the sullivantii variety in Germany over 60 years ago; hence full name: Rudbeckia fulgida var. sulivantii 'Goldsturm'. Subsequently this cultivar has been used to select for other cultivars. Rudbeckia fulgida var. fulgida is another native variety of the R. fulgida species. The core range of variety fulgida is Ga, La, SC. NC, Va and WVa. The core range of R. fulgida var. sullivantii is Mo, Ill, Ind, Mich and Ohio. Cultivars like 'Goldsturm' were selected for (= selectively bred for) certain traits; also the descendants of 'Goldsturm' (in the latter case includes resistance to drought and to leaf-spotting). I'm under the impression that the world "selection", as applied to R. fulgida var. fulgida, just means it was collected from the wild (= is a wild type). If so, that could imply it has lots of variability in the garden.
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pitimpinai
14 years ago
Echinacea --sorry.
ramazz
14 years ago
I agree that the top photo is rudbeckia and the bottom one echinacea. Rudbeckia leaves are usually fuzzy and echinacea are smooth, in addition to the differences already noted.

Becky
conniemcghee
14 years ago
I think you got it right :) The second photo looks like my Echinacea.
dawiff
Original Author
14 years ago
Thanks for the confirmation! It's good to know that after not having a garden to play in for a year I haven't lost my touch!
karendee
14 years ago
some of my rud seedlings are more fuzzy while others are not. I wonder if it is the strain that matters?

Anyway once they bloom you should be able to tell. Both look like ruds to me but I am a novice for sure!

Karen

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Telling the Difference Between Rudbeckia and Echinacea

Comments (7)

gardenweed_z6a

pitimpinai

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conniemcghee

dawiff
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Telling the Difference Between Rudbeckia and Echinacea

Comments (7)

gardenweed_z6a

pitimpinai

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pitimpinai

ramazz

conniemcghee

dawiffOriginal Author

karendee

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dawiff
Original Author