My Echinacea is up and it looks more like the first picture you posted than the second. I don't have rudbeckia growing yet (other than WS sprouts) so I can't vouch for that one. I'm no expert on either one but I could email you a picture of my Echinacea 'White Swan' and you could decide for yourself. Is your email address displayed on Your Page?

The first one looks like a Rudbeckia, could be 'Goldsturm'. The leaves are rounder.
The second is Echinacia. The leaves are elongated. If you transplant them, you'll see that the base of the stems are pinkish.

Echinacea --sorry.

I agree that the top photo is rudbeckia and the bottom one echinacea. Rudbeckia leaves are usually fuzzy and echinacea are smooth, in addition to the differences already noted.

Becky

I think you got it right :) The second photo looks like my Echinacea.

Thanks for the confirmation! It's good to know that after not having a garden to play in for a year I haven't lost my touch!

some of my rud seedlings are more fuzzy while others are not. I wonder if it is the strain that matters?

Anyway once they bloom you should be able to tell. Both look like ruds to me but I am a novice for sure!

Karen