Rudbeckia hirta - Dyer's Rudbeckia - Seeds

Description

• Asteraceae Asterales
• North America
• H 60cm x W 30cm
•  Z4 
• Annual, Biennial, Ephemeral Perennial
• Synonym: Black Eyed Susan, Coneflower
• 1 packet of 20 seeds

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Details

Rudbeckia hirta is a meadow plant domesticated for its superb, abundant and very long-lasting flowering, both in the garden and as a cut flower

There are many varieties of Black Eyed Susan, giving dwarf or tall plants, various sizes and shapes of flowers, and colors ranging from yellow, orange, mahogany, and dark pink, including bicolor

The Dyer's Rudbeckia forms a tuft of hairy leaves that are wider than they are tall, slightly glaucous green

They emerge from a stump of fleshy roots and last in winter when the frosts are not too severe

During spring, several erect stems emerge, with little branching, at the end of which unfolds a very large, yellow-orange flower with a dark center

The actual flowers, tiny and grouped in flower heads (the heart of what we call "flower"), are insignificant, and once passed, the "flower" lasts for weeks or even months

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Cultivation

Sow the seeds of Rudbeckia hirta in March or April, in the nursery, 3-4 seeds per pot, packing them on top of potting soil kept moist, or barely covering them

Expose to the sun, warm, and keep moist

Germination is quite rapid in these spring conditions

Grow for a few weeks in the nursery until seedlings are strong enough to go in the garden

Plant Rudbeckia hirta in the center of a clump or isolated in a rockery, in full sun, in moderately fertile, clean, well-worked soil

Water until recovery, and protect the young plant from slugs and snails (precaution not necessary with adult plants)

Thereafter, it is a maintenance-free plant apart from weeding to keep it clean and aesthetic

In autumn, cut the flower stems at ground level

Rudbeckia hirta grows back in spring, generally for several years (ephemeral perennial)

No diseases, the fleshy roots can be devoured by insect larvae and voles