Little Henry Sweet Coneflower

Little Henry Sweet Coneflower (Rudbeckia subtomentosa 'Little Henry')

Little Henry Sweet Coneflower gives you the distinctive quilled-petal look of its taller relatives in a more garden-friendly size. It blooms for weeks in late summer and into fall, keeping borders bright when many perennials start to fade. The upright, well-branched habit stays presentable without constant staking, and the flowers bring steady pollinator activity. If you want an easy perennial with an unusual texture and a long-season payoff, this one earns its space.

Distinctive Features

Little Henry is known for butter-yellow daisies with narrow, rolled, tube-like petals that create a pinwheel effect around a dark brown cone. Flowers appear in clusters on strong stems from mid to late summer into fall, making it a dependable late-season performer and a great cut flower. The green, lance-shaped foliage can carry a mild sweet, anise-like scent when brushed. Mature plants typically reach about 3 feet tall and about 2 feet wide, offering a narrower, more compact presence than 'Henry Eilers'.

Growing Conditions

• Sun: Full sun is best for the strongest stems and heaviest flowering, with light shade tolerated.
• Soil: Average, evenly moist, well-drained soil is ideal, and it adapts to many garden soils with reasonable drainage.
• Water: Water regularly during establishment, then maintain medium moisture, with some drought tolerance once rooted.
• USDA Zones: Hardy in zones 4 to 8.
• Mature Size: About 3 feet tall and about 2 feet wide.

Ideal Uses

• Focal Point: Use a small group as a late-summer focal point where the quilled blooms can carry the border through the season's finish.
• Back of Borders: Plant behind mid-height perennials to add vertical structure without an oversized footprint.
• Meadow Style Plantings: Mix with ornamental grasses and prairie perennials for natural movement and long-season color.
• Pollinator Gardens: Include in wildlife-friendly beds to support bees and butterflies during peak late-season bloom.
• Cut Flower Beds: Grow for cutting gardens where the unusual petals add texture to bouquets.

Low Maintenance Care

• Deadheading: Remove spent blooms to keep the plant tidy and encourage continued flowering.
• Watering: Water during extended dry spells, especially in full sun, to support strong growth and bloom.
• Staking: Staking is usually unnecessary, but a discreet support can help in very windy sites.
• Cutback: Cut stems back in late fall or early spring to refresh the planting and make room for new growth.
• Dividing: Divide clumps every few years in spring if they become crowded or if you want to expand your planting.

Why Choose Little Henry Sweet Coneflower?

• Quilled Petal Texture: Rolled yellow petals create a distinctive starburst look that stands out in mixed plantings.
• Compact Size: A shorter, more manageable form fits easily into residential borders.
• Late-Season Color: Blooms arrive when many gardens need a fresh surge of interest.
• Strong Stems: Upright, well-branched growth holds flowers up for a clean, garden-ready display.
• Pollinator Friendly: Flowers help keep late-summer gardens active with beneficial visitors.

Little Henry is a smart choice when you want late-season bloom with an unusual form and a tidy habit. Give it sun, consistent moisture, and straightforward deadheading, and it will keep producing textured, golden flowers well into fall. It pairs naturally with grasses, coneflowers, salvias, and asters for a border that looks strong through the finish.