Rudbeckia hirta Prairie Sun

Rudbeckia 'Prairie Sun' produces hundreds of flowers in the shape of large daisies, golden yellow to yellow-orange, bordered by bright yellow, which blossom in a single collar around a green centre. This dazzling variety is as beautiful in pots as it is in borders, offering a perfect contrast to the 'Autumn Colours' variety. Easy to grow as an annual, this short-lived perennial quickly forms a medium-sized clump that easily multiplies through spontaneous sowings. It prefers full sun and can tolerate ordinary, rather fertile, and occasionally dry soil.

The annual rudbeckia 'Prairie Sun' belongs to the Asteraceae family. It is a cultivar derived from Rudbeckia hirta, a short-lived perennial species native to the United States. In nature this plant grows in meadows, pastures, and cultivated fields where it is considered an adventive species. 'Prairie Sun' is a medium-sized cultivar. It is an herbaceous plant that develops mostly unbranched stems, covered with large, rigid, erect hairs, slightly rough to the touch. Reaching 70 cm (27.6 in) in height when in bloom, with a spread of 30 cm (11.8 in), the plant has an upright and bushy habit. The flowers bloom from July to October. Each head, 10 to 12 cm (3.9 - 4.7 in) wide, consists of a central cone-shaped disk, flattened and rounded, of green-yellow color. This cone is surrounded at the base by a collar of ligulate flowers. The collar is divided into two concentric zones of different colours, a bright yellow border surrounding a yellow-orange central zone. The lower leaves, ovate and pointed (10 cm/3.9 in long), toothed on the edges, appear in basal clumps. The cauline leaves are smaller and sessile (without petioles), with a rounded to cordate base; their colour is a light and vivid green.

Both an architectural plant and an accent plant, the Hairy Rudbeckia quickly structures your borders and settles into flowerpots thanks to its compact and rounded habit, offering very beautiful blooms until late in the season. Its strong presence, due to the contrast of colours, combines perfectly with the very rich shades of the 'Autumn Colours' Rudbeckia. It can also be accompanied by lightly flowering plants such as perennial flax, evening primroses (Oenothera versicolor Sunset Boulevard), felicias, nemesis, or lobelias in flower pots. In a country garden, it will keep company with inulas, Ammi visnaga, ornamental carrots, and tall thistles. Its sun-like flowers will also be enhanced by the graphic design of tall miscanthus. It is also a perfect flower for making homemade bouquets.

All Rudbeckias are dye plants (especially R. hirta and R. laciniata) due to the presence of flavonols in their tissues. Used alone the flowers provide yellow-orange colours, while the entire plant provides yellow-green shades.

Please note that our young plants in mini-plugs are professional products intended for experienced gardeners: upon receipt, transplant and store them under shelter (veranda, greenhouse, frame) at a temperature above 14C° for a few weeks before planting outside once all risk of frost has passed.