Blackeye Susans, the Rudbeckia clan

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This is:

A potpourri (below) of Rudbeckia information as a supplement to other articles.

A plant-based page rather than our usual topic-based page. It's a pivot point where you'll find one set of links to ours and others' articles that involve Rudbeckias. (Go to those links now!)

Rudbeckia Potpourri

Rudbeckia flowers are great for cutting, for butterflies and if left to go to seed, for goldfinches and other seed eating birds. The seed-topped stems can also be very attractive in winter if left standing where they will be seen against light colored backgrounds.

There are many Rudbeckia species, all native to North America and almost every one vigorous growing, easy and dependable. Many have "Susan" and "coneflower" in their common name: Blackeye Susan, browneye Susan, giant coneflower, etc.

Rudbeckia hirta is the classic blackeye Susan and is a big blooming, long season biennial with bristle-haired foliage. Crossed with perennial species, it's yielded great hybrids and on its own has produces mobs of varieties -- the whole bunch can and does dominate many sunny perennial beds. Gloriosa daisy is the name given to a big group of Rudbeckia varieties that are annual or short-lived perennials, and it's the perfect moniker for plants that really steal the July spotlight.

Below: One of the Rudbeckia hirta varieties known as Gloriosa daisy.

Read more about Rudbeckia:

Design/Uses:
     Bloom time:
          What's Coming Up 52 and Late perennials
     Drought tolerant:
          I.D. the best
     Easiest, best perennials
     Native plants:
          What's Coming Up 103
     Rain garden plant:
          Use all the water given
     Tolerates black walnut:
          Growing Concerns 91

Maintenance:
      Corn borer damage:
          Corn borer eats flowers, too
      Leaf spot:
          What's Coming Up 51

Miscellany:
     Weedy nature, invasive, "volunteers"
          Cold hardy volunteers and Confident weeds and Bad luck to say thanks
         

We're just introducing this set of perennial info pages. We hope you'll comment. Let us know if the format was useful, share your suggestions, tell us we shouldn't have this page at all... anything helps!

 

 

 

 

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