Sochan (Rudbeckia laciniata)

Also known as cutleaf coneflower, is a towering, long lived perennial that brings both vertical drama and edible history to the garden. Reaching 6 to 10 feet, it is easily identified by its deeply lobed, "cut" leaves and bright yellow flowers with distinct, drooping petals surrounding a green central cone. In bloom they service generalists pollinators while in seed offers winter life for birds once the ground is frozen. This plant thrives in moist, rich soils and is a staple of bottomlands and damp habitats. Sochan has been a vital traditional food source for centuries, particularly for the Cherokee people, who traditionally harvest the tender young leaves in early spring to be cooked as a nutritious, mineral-rich "pot herb." In the garden, Cutleaf Coneflower should be anchored at the very back of a moist border or along a sunny woodland edge, where its massive 5 to 10 foot stature can serve as a living privacy screen or a golden backdrop for shorter perennials.