if you have more than one.. try it both ways ... i remember my experiments longer than what i read or was told ...

are you the retentive type who must have a clean garden over winter ??? .. these peeps probably cleaned their house all summer.. instead of being in the garden .... lol ...

are you type who is lazy in fall ... and declare that you prefer the winter interest.. lol ...

it really doenst matter when you do it ... your choice ..

same rule for all plants... imo ...

ken

IME, as long as the foliage is healthy, on Rudbeckia you can remove whenever works for you - early spring before growth, late fall, or winter. Some birds will enjoy the winter seeds, but you will also have more seedlings if you leave the seedheads. If the foliage is diseased, remove all above ground plant matter and put in trash so that the spores don't winter over.