Scientific Name
Other Names
Life Form
Family
Ornamantal - Popular ornamental flower for gardens.
USA
Thrives in meadows, prairies, fields, and along roadsides.
It is upright annual or sometimes biennial (flowering in the second year) with a clumping growth form.
Stem is erect, bristly reaching 30-100 cm tall. Branch freely in the second year, covered with short hairs.
Leaves are rough-textured basal leaves (first year), diamond-shaped with three prominent veins. Can grow up to 10-18 cm long. Stem leaves (second year): Hairy, lance-shaped leaves growing 5-7.5 cm long, arranged alternately on the stem.
Flowers are large, daisy-like flower heads with a central disc and colorful ray florets. Bright yellow to orange petals surrounding a prominent, dark brown or black central cone, up to 10 cm in diameter.
Fruit is dry, single-seeded with a pappus (hair-like structure) for wind dispersal.
Flowering: June - September.