What great flowers for late summer and early fall the Rudbeckias are. They’re like sunshine on a stick! This lowly little Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) is one of the earlier ones.
Right now, the city is alight with constellations of Rudbeckia fulgida ‘Goldsturm’ which, in 1999, was rightly chosen by the Perennial Plant Association as its Perennial Plant of the Year. This category of perennials is selected for its reliable performance under a variety of conditions – that likely means they perform well under your conditions. Have a look at this list next time you’re heading for the garden centre.
Last time I drove up Don Mills north of Eglinton, the Four Seasons head office had surrounded itself with a magnificent monoculture of Rudbeckia ‘Goldsturm’, and what a golden picture it made. Ah, for the luxury of a mass planting. And where was my camera when I needed it? Note to self: always bring the camera!
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The particular variety, the Rudbeckia Goldsturm, should be in everyone’s garden. It’s tough, blooms forever, spreads, but not too voraciously, and is drought resistant and shade tolerant. Completely reliable and easy-care plant.
I adore the Rudbeckia hirta, but it has never adored me. Never seems to want to stay in my garden, and seems happiest as a wildflower in a meadow, but the Goldsturms stay where you put them. The flower is very similar to the hirta, the main difference between them are the stems and flowers. Hirtas are softer, with soft hairy, rounded leaves, and the Goldsturms are tough, fibrous, pointed, and bristlier.