Rudbeckia
Common Name: Black-Eyed Susan
Overview
| Plant Type | Perennial |
| Hardiness Zone | 4 |
Cultivars
|
Cultivar |
Height |
Spread |
Blooms |
Sun |
Planted |
| Goldsturm Rudbeckia fulgida 
| 24-36" | 18-24" | Mid to late season | Sun to part shade | House garden beds |
| Unknown Rudbeckia hirta 
| 24" | 18-24" | Mid to late season | Sun to part shade | House garden beds |
| Unknown Rudbeckia fulgida var. sullivantii 
| 14-16" | 14-16" | Mid to late season | Sun to part shade | Bee pollination garden |
Ongoing Management
Pruning / Cutting Back
Leave seed heads as a food source for wild birds.
Propagation
When growing from seeds, a cold period is necessary for germination. Plant the seeds in late Fall (November-December), or as soon as soil can be worked in early Spring (February-March). Sow seeds 1/4" deep. Needs 6+ hours of sun to germinate.
Collecting Seeds
These seeds are small, so shake the flower head inside a bag. If desired, you can pick out the non-seed stuff that also shook out, but it isn't that important. You can save the seeds for a starting inside, or you can shake the flowers around the flower so that the seeds sow directly into the ground.
Collect Rudbeckia seeds in late Summer through early Fall, about 3-4 weeks after blooms fade, when seed cones in the flower center turn hard, grayish or dark brown. Gently pull apart the dried cone to dislodge the seeds into a collection bag or envelope. Collect seeds when dry, avoid moisture during collection, and store seeds in breathable paper bags to prevent mold.
Sustainable Harvesting: Leave some seeds on plants for wildlife (e.g., birds) to feed upon.
More Information
Web Sites
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eMail comments to me at GardeningBoK @ Gmail.com. |