How to grow & care for Rudbeckia (Coneflowers)

Rudbeckia are brilliant summer-flowering plants. However, perhaps because of their bold, yellow flowers, they have been a little underused. Just do it. Get some Rudbeckia in your garden. They are incredibly resilient to dry periods and hot temperatures so they make the perfect summer flower for temperate and warm climates. Rudbeckia flower prolifically.

Rudbeckia hirta has a protruding centre and reflexed petals that form the iconic coneflower shape but is so much more abundant in drier conditions than other summer perennials, such as Echinacea purpurea. Some excellent species and cultivars are part of the Rudbeckia genus.

Prolific, rich and resilient blooms of Rudbeckia ‘Cherry Brandy’

Rudbekia Hirta

All Rudbeckia can be used as cut flowers. Still, the cultivars of Rudbeckia hirta really are the most abundant and the best. The varieties flower profusely on long, strong stems and give the appearance of a flowering dome. Early tip-pruning will increase the abundance of flowers, and then deadheading will continue the flowering into early autumn. There is a proliferation of petal shapes, sizes and colours but following are two of my favourites.

‘Cherry Brandy’ is one of my all-time favourite flowers. The rich burgundy and chocolate flowers of this Rudbeckia are plain delicious

‘Marmalade’ has smaller, tighter, rich-yellow petals with small prominent cones – so abundant, brilliant and bold.

Rudbeckia laciniata

The Cutleaf Coneflower is a tall and slender beauty with very long flower stems and smaller leaves. The light-yellow flower discs dance on the top of the foliage. If you want an instant green screen for summer, they are an excellent candidate.

Rudbeckia maxima

A garden hero! It emerges in spring as the loveliest rosette of glaucous, grey-green foliage, then sends thin, silver stems upwards to form proud, brown cone centers surrounded by rich-yellow petals.

Rudbeckia maxima heading skywards.

Care and growing notes

Rudbeckia can be grown from seed in the spring and planted before the peak of summer. As the clumps of the Rudbeckia expand with each year, they can be lifted and divided in spring to expand your garden or to share with friends.

Depending on your location and climate, Rudbeckia hirta may be better to grow as an annual saving the seeds and propagating each year. They seem not to be as strong coming out of their winter dormancy compared to other Rudbeckia species.

With its glorious, bold, grey-green leaves, Rudbeckia maxima can be a feast for slugs and snails. If the pests get rampant, scatter natural snail pellets (safe for dogs, frogs and other wildlife).

Location

Full-sun position with free-draining soil. Waterlogged soils during the winter months may impact the dormant plants.

Sourcing

Rudbeckia seeds can be sourced from quality seed suppliers. The plants are available from specialty suppliers during the perennial season from spring to summer.