Rudbeckia 'Prairie Sun'

Rudbeckia 'Prairie Sun': Green Eyes, Two-Tone Petals, Total Charm

Golden-orange petals fading to lemon tips around a light green centre, like a sunrise with a lime twist. 'Prairie Sun' is the cocktail you can leave out on the patio ALL SUMMER LONG.

Plant Characteristics:

• Botanical Name: Rudbeckia hirta 'Prairie Sun'
• Common Name: Black-eyed Susan, gloriosa daisy
• Height: 70–90 cm (28–36 in)
• Spread: 30–45 cm (12–18 in)
• Flowers: Single daisies about 13 cm (5 in) across, golden-orange at the base fading to lemon-yellow tips, with a light green centre that ages to brown
• Bloom Time: Midsummer to fall (July to October)
• Foliage: Medium green, hairy leaves
• Features: Long-lasting cut flower, tolerates some drought once established, short-lived but self-seeds, All-America Selections and Fleuroselect winner

Where to Plant: It's a natural for prairie and meadow plantings, cottage gardens, cutting gardens and the middle of a sunny border. Grow a few extra just for cutting, since the flowers last well in a vase.

Companion Plants: Digitalis Arctic Fox™ Rose adds rose spires at 46 to 61 cm from June to August. Tradescantia 'Concord Grape' brings purple flowers from June to September. Leucanthemum 'Snowcap' edges the front with white daisies from June to August. 'Prairie Sun' then takes over with yellow blooms from July to October.

Plant Care: Plant in full sun to part sun, in average, well-drained soil. It prefers moist, rich loam but tolerates most soils and some drought once established. It rarely needs staking. Space plants with good air flow to help prevent powdery mildew. Deadhead through summer to encourage more flowers. In fall, leave some seed heads standing for winter interest and to let it reseed. Rabbits may nibble young plants, and slugs can bother seedlings. Rudbeckia hirta is a short-lived perennial or biennial that often behaves as a reseeding annual, especially in heavy soil. Letting a few seedlings grow on keeps it in the garden. Cut back in late fall or early spring.

History: 'Prairie Sun' was a 2003 All-America Selections winner and also won a Fleuroselect award in Europe. Its parent species, Rudbeckia hirta, is a wildflower of the North American plains and prairies that has naturalized across most of the continental United States and southern Canada.

Final Thoughts: Long-lasting in a vase, loved by bees and butterflies, and it reseeds itself. Deer pass. THE SUN CLOCKED IN.