12/08/2026
💡 Edible Plant Spotlight 💡
Want an easy-to-grow food crop that you’ll never run out of? Cutleaf coneflower (Rudbeckia laciniata) is your plant!
This plant has two growth phases. During the winter and spring, the leaf mounds are about 1’ tall and usually stay evergreen, making it a wonderful ground cover that comes in thickly enough it can choke out bermuda that tries to invade. The leaves provide great wildlife habitat for garden toads especially!
These young, tender leaves can be sautéed, steamed, or used in soups and are very nutritious, with a flavor somewhere between celery and parsley. They provide a wonderful food source all winter, that needs little to no care. **
During the middle of summer and fall, the plant will shoot up tall flower spikes, up to 8’ or more, with yellow flowers that will bring in all the pollinators. Birds like goldfinches adore the seeds too, so this plant truly has something for everyone.
Cutleaf coneflower does best in full or partly sunny spots that stay more moist. It will need supplemental water during long dry periods in the summer, but is fantastic for rain gardens and low-lying spots that tend to flood, or places you need help soaking up standing water.
We’ve got locally-grown and pesticide-free plants available right now at the store for $8 each.
** As always, we are not providing any medical advice, and it is always wise to consult your healthcare professional before adding any new foods to your diet.
