- easy
- deer resistant
- long summer colour
- prolific self seeding biennial or short lived perennial
- full sun or partial shade
- not fussy about soil but does not like wet
- tolerates drought
- summer, fall and winter interest
- loved by bees and butterflies
- does best when growing with its own kind
There are many species of Rubeckia but this is one of the easiest and once you have it you will not be without. It loves to grow where others don’t and is an easy plant to control if you don’t want it. It is such a giving cheerful plant, I can’t think of a reason why you would not want it.
Other Rudbeckia species include Rudbeckia lacienata, featured left, the Outhouse Plant, which can grow to 12 feet tall.
It is a true perennial but many of the other species I have found to be fairly short lived perennials. Rudbeckia fulgida is another well known species and it’s varieties, ‘Goldsturm’ and ‘American Goldrush’ have both won awards for their qualities.
As you can see below there is a wonderful variety in the colouration of Rudbeckia hirta. These beauties seed freely and pop up through the brick surrounding my pond. As they fade into fall their drooping petals reflect the vibe of summer’s end. A Wood Nymph butterfly is one of many that flit about in the summer months.
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