6 Reasons Rudbeckias Rock

By Abby Lapides

Showy, long blooming and rugged, Rudbeckias, AKA black-eyed Susans, are powerhouse plants that thrive in the St. Louis area. In fact, there are at least 9 Rudbeckia species native to Missouri. These easy to grow, pollinator favorites should be in everyone’s garden and here’s why.

Rudbeckia ‘Herbstsonne’

They’T re easy landscape planTs for The hands-off gardener

If you’re looking for a longblooming easy-care plant look no further than ‘American Gold Rush’. Appearing for most of the summer, half-dollar-sized golden yellow blossoms form into perfectly shaped domes 18” in diameter. ‘American Gold Rush’ also displays leaves that are completely free of diseases that plagued many of the older fulgida varieties (‘Goldstrum’ I’m talking to you). A perfect landscape plant, ‘American Gold Rush’ will grace gardens for years to come.

THE GARDEN IS CALLING. DIG IN.

TheyT aTTracT buTTerflies and oTher pollinaTors To TheThe garden

Want butterflies in your garden? Especially monarchs? While all Rudbeckias attract pollinators, monarchs can’t resist the nectar rich flowers of ‘Herbstsonne’. Also knows as ‘Autumn Sun’, ‘Herbstsonne’ provides 8 weeks of shuttlecock-shaped, mac n’ cheese yellow flowers that are like candy to the monarchs. Just add milkweed, blazing star and asters and you will have a gorgeous monarch haven.

All-America Selections

Rudbeckia ‘Indian Summer’

MosT blooM for MonThs

With its larger-than-life flowers and long bloom times it can be difficult to believe that ‘Indian Summer’ is real. Not only is it real, but ‘Indian Summer’ thrives in St. Louis! Huge, upwards of 7” in diameter, yellow flowers bloom for months on end. The bright petals shoot straight out of dark chocolate-black cones. This AllAmerica Selections winner is prized for its amazing number of flowers and toughness. A short-lived perennial, Rudbeckia hirta types tend to live 2-3 years, but if allowed, will reseed prolifically. Just like children, seed offspring will not be exact clones of the parents.

Abby Lapides is owner and a speaker at Sugar Creek Gardens Nursery. She has degrees from the University of Missouri, and is a member of the Landscape and Nursery Association of Greater St. Louis. You can reach her at (314) 965-3070. cont’d. on next page

TheyT coMe in all differenTdifferenT sizes-even huge

Rudbeckia maxima

Walking along the garden path and coming across a patch of giant coneflower, Rudbeckia maxima will have you feel like you just drank one of Alice’s potions from Wonderland. Huge cabbage-like leaves give rise to 5-7’ tall stems with bright yellow petals and tall dark brown cones. This tall stately plant perfectly fits in the back of a garden, along a tall fence or anywhere a large showy specimen is needed.

soMe are on The cuTTing edge of planT inTroducTions

While only partially a Rudbeckia the Echibeckia, a cross between Rudbeckia and an Echinacea, exhibits two of my favorite Rudbeckia qualities – showy flowers and long bloom times. While each new Echibeckia variety is more interesting than the next, my personal favorite is the ‘Sumerina Sunchaser.’ Absolutely huge, over 8” in diameter, flowers with orange and yellow ombre flowers bloom all summer long on large plants. These new plants have only been tested hardy to zone 7, so consider it an annual, but one worth growing as it provides huge color all season.

Rudbeckia missouriensis

They provide long-lived cuT flowers for bouqueTs

Rudbeckias excel in bouquets. Their cheery flowers last for weeks when cut. For mixed summer bouquets consider growing the Missouri black-eyed Susan, Rudbeckia missouriensis. This petite Missouri native, usually growing about 2-3’ tall and wide fits better into smaller gardens than other native varieties. The 3” diameter sunny daisies play beautifully with other cut flowers. Tolerant of dry rocky soils and long periods of drought, plant Missouri blackeyed Susan in locations where the hose can be difficult to reach.

Most Rudbeckias thrive in full sun to light shade in well-drained soils. Almost all are deer and disease resistant. With their exemplary qualities -dependability, prolific showy flowers and versatility to name a few- Rudbeckias will always have a home in my garden, and they belong in yours too.

Photos by Ann Lapides except as noted.