Flower profile

Clasping coneflower

Rudbeckia amplexicaulis

Clasping coneflower (Rudbeckia amplexicaulis) is a flowering plant in the Asteraceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly April–June across the U.S.

Native to Louisiana

Clasping coneflower is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. In Louisiana it's most often seen in bloom in March–May.

14states where USDA records it

634LA sightings*

6,931U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Louisiana

Quick look

Dracopis is a monotypic genus with Dracopis amplexicaulis the sole species. It is native to North America.
From Wikipedia's article Dracopis, CC BY-SA 4.0.

It belongs to the Asteraceae family. ^iNaturalist
USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) with a annual life cycle. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 14 states. ^{USDA PLANTS}
NatureServe lists it as native to Louisiana. ^NatureServe
In Louisiana, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in March–May. ^iNaturalist
USDA PLANTS lists its flower color as yellow. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS gives its bloom period as late summer. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS lists a mature height of about 2 ft. ^{USDA PLANTS}
iNaturalist has 634 research-grade sightings of it in Louisiana, ranking #51 among the 154 flowers on our Louisiana list. ^iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

In Louisiana, most flowering sightings come in March–May.

Flowering records by month in Louisiana (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (143 records)

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA): Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. ^{USFWS ECOS}
NatureServe global: G5 Secure worldwide. ^NatureServe
Louisiana: No list Louisiana has no state list of endangered or threatened plants separate from the federal list, so we show federal status and NatureServe's Louisiana ranks. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Louisiana.
Rare elsewhere: Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: MO (S1). (S1 critically imperiled, S2 imperiled, SH possibly extirpated, SX presumed extirpated.)

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peopleNot well documented

None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no page for this plant), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people.

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list.

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records clasping coneflower in 14 states.

AKMEVTNHWAIDMTNDMNILWIMINYRIMAORNVWYSDIAINOHPANJCTCAUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDEAZNMKSARTNNCSCDCOKLAMSALGAHITXFL

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas.

Louisiana counties with USDA records: Ascension, Assumption, Avoyelles, Bossier, Caddo, Calcasieu, Caldwell, Cameron, Catahoula, Concordia, De Soto, East Baton Rouge, East Carroll, East Feliciana, Evangeline, Franklin, Grant, Iberia, Iberville, Jackson, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lafourche, Livingston, Madison, Morehouse, Natchitoches, Orleans, Ouachita, Plaquemines, Pointe Coupee, Rapides, Red River, Richland, Sabine, St. Charles, St. Helena, St. James, St. John the Baptist, St. Landry, St. Martin, St. Mary, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Tensas, Terrebonne, Vernon, Webster, West Baton Rouge, West Carroll, West Feliciana, Winn.

Growing conditions

USDA PLANTS gives Clasping coneflower a high shade tolerance, high drought tolerance and high moisture use. It is rated for soil pH 6.0 to 7.5 and winter lows down to 32 °F.

Shade tolerance: High
Drought tolerance: High
Moisture use: High
Soil textures it is adapted to: coarse, medium, fine
Soil pH range: 6.0 to 7.5
Minimum temperature tolerated: 32 °F
Frost-free days needed (minimum): 120
Annual precipitation range: 10 to 60 inches
Minimum root depth: 6 inches
Salinity tolerance: None
Fertility requirement: Low
Growth rate: Rapid
Active growth period: Spring and Summer
Fruit or seed: Black · Summer to Fall
Can be propagated by: seed
Commercial availability: Routinely Available

From the USDA PLANTS characteristics data for DRAM. USDA ratings are general guidance for the species, not a guarantee for your garden.

Names, range and relatives

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 189 counties across 12 states; the most are in Louisiana (52), Texas (52), Oklahoma (34).

Other Rudbeckia on Bloomipedia (4): Black-eyed Susan, Cutleaf coneflower, Brown-eyed susan, Western coneflower.

More from the Asteraceae family (212 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Common yarrow, Goldenrods, White snakeroot, Sunflowers, Chicory, Bull thistle, Common dandelion, Firewheel.

More Louisiana flowers

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White beggarticks

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Introduced

🌼 Blooms in LA: April–October

Sources

USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile DRAM.
iNaturalist, Rudbeckia amplexicaulis: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
Wikipedia, Dracopis (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
NatureServe Explorer, Rudbeckia amplexicaulis (global and state ranks).
Edibility and toxicity: no source found (marked "not well documented").
Photo: Joseph Aubert via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.