Rudbeckia hirta Goldilocks

The 'Goldilocks' Rudbeckia is a short-lived perennial plant with rapid growth, which is very floriferous, most often grown as an annual. Its heads are composed of a semi-double to double flower, of intense golden yellow, arranged around a central black cone. This variety offers generous flowering, which renews from the middle of summer until late autumn, with new flowers hiding their older ones that fade when wilting. It can be admired up close in bouquets, where its flowers are very durable, as well as in flowering pots, or even from a distance in flower beds. Easy to grow, this modest-sized variety is cultivated in full sun and in ordinary soil, damp to occasionally dry.

The annual 'Goldilocks' Rudbeckia belongs to the Asteraceae family. Rudbeckia hirta is a short-lived perennial native to the United States, where it grows in meadows, pastures, and cultivated fields where it is considered a weed. 'Goldilocks' is a compact and very floriferous cultivar. It is a herbaceous plant that develops mostly unbranched stems, covered with large, rigid, upright hairs, slightly rough to the touch. Reaching 50 to 60 cm (20 to 24in) in height when flowering, with a spread of 38cm (15in), the plant has an upright and bushy habit. The flowers bloom from July to October. Each head consists of a central disk in the shape of a flattened and rounded cone, composed of numerous almost black tubular flowers. This cone is surrounded at the base by a collar of dark yellow to orange ligulate flowers, more or less double. The basal leaves are ovate and pointed, 10 cm (4in) long, with toothed edges, appearing in basal tufts. The cauline leaves are smaller and sessile (without petioles) with a rounded to cordate base.

Both an architectural plant and an accent plant, Rudbeckia quickly structures your flower beds and thrives in flowering pots thanks to its compact, rounded habit, offering very beautiful unrestrained flowering. Its strong presence, due to the contrast of colours, requires it to be associated with light-flowering plants such as evening primroses (Oenothera versicolor Sunset Boulevard), Felicia, nemesis, or lobelias in flowering pots, or in the company of Inula or Ammi visnaga. Its sunny flowers will also be enhanced by the graphic design of tall miscanthus grasses (Miscanthus sinensis Yaku-jima, Miscanthus sinensis Silberspinne, Miscanthus transmorrisonensis...)

All Rudbeckia plants are dye plants (especially R. hirta and R. laciniata) due to the presence of flavonols in their tissues. The inflorescences used alone give yellow-orange colours, while the whole plant provides yellow-green shades.

Note: Please be aware that our plug plants are professional products intended for experienced gardeners: upon receipt, transplant and store them under shelter (veranda, greenhouse, frame...) at a temperature above 14°C (57.2°F) for a few weeks before being installed outdoors once the risk of frost has been eliminated.