A North American daisy
Every Rudbeckia species is native to North America. The genus belongs to the daisy family, with yellow or orange petals around a raised dark cone, hence the names coneflower and black-eyed Susan. Linnaeus named it for Olof Rudbeck the Younger and his father, the Uppsala naturalists. Most species are perennial, though Rudbeckia hirta is often annual or biennial and grows 30 to 100 cm tall.
Picking one
For a long-lived border perennial, 'Goldsturm', a form of Rudbeckia fulgida, is a famous choice. For summer bedding from seed, Rudbeckia hirta cultivars 'Indian Summer' and 'Toto' have both been awarded the RHS Award of Garden Merit. Do not confuse the genus with Echinacea, another coneflower, which has purple-pink petals.
Growing in Irish soil
- Give sun and moisture-retentive soil; heavy ground is fine if it is not waterlogged in winter.
- Plant in spring and divide big clumps every few years.
- Water young plants in a dry spell.
- Leave some seed heads standing for birds and winter structure.
Slugs enjoy the young shoots, so protect early growth.
Cut stems
Flowers bring strong colour to late summer bouquets and last about a week in a vase.
Pets
Rudbeckia is not generally recognised as a poisonous plant, but no garden plant is meant for chewing. Call your vet if a pet has eaten a large amount.
