Rudbeckia grow and care – herbaceous of the genus Rudbeckia also known as Black eyed Susan or Coneflowers, Rudbeckia perennial evergreen or annual plant, used as ornamental plant the flowers attract pollinators, also can be used cut flower or some spices can used as medical plant, can grow in temperate, mediterranean or subtropical climate and growing in hardiness zone 3-11 (in spring planting) 10b+-11 (in autumn planting).
Leaves color green in elliptic spoon shape and can be deeply lobed.
Flower color orange, yellow, red, purple or more than one color, with black in the middle in daisy shape, color change can be by disks that change from the darker in the middle to lighter in the end or in lines of different colors.
How to grow Rudbeckia – growing condition and care:
Well-drained soil, rich soil, prefer organic matter, when the plant are young better to put mulch on the soil it help to keep the moist of the soil
What is the best way to start growing? Plant / Seed, best sowing season in the spring, as annual better to sow in the winter indoor and take them outdoor after the last frost / Vegetative reproduction (when start from cutting better in the spring before the plant start bloom and even better when start to grow in stems that tend to grow (where there are buds)
Is it necessary to graft or use vegetative reproduction? No
Difficulties or problems when growing: Aggressive
Planting season: Spring / Summer / Autumn (in warmer area), planting season in cold places will be in the spring in warmer area will be also in the summer and from hardiness of 10+ can be also in the spring
Pests and diseases: Aphids, slugs, whiteflies
Pruning season: Autumn / Winter
How to prune: Dead leaves and bloom stems, pruning if there is no need for seeds it’s prettier and better for the plant to cut the dead flowers, because it’s prevent low part of the plant to get sun, pruning design it’s important need to prune in order to open the plant in optimal pass to the sun, the flowers bloom in the top when they have accesses to the sun
Size of the plant? 30-200 cm, 12-840 inches
Growth speed in optimal condition: Fast growing (with rich soil and fertilizer)/ Medium growing
Water requirement: Average amount of water / Big amount of water
Light conditions in optimal condition for growing: Full Sun / Half Shade it’s an option to grow but this flowers love sun and perform better in full sun, less sun equal less flowers
Is it possible to grow indoor as houseplant? No
Growing is also possible in a pot / planter /flowerpot / containers: Yes, when grow in container, size 5-15 liter (1.5-4 gallon) depend the cultivar, average amount of water that needed, it’s to keep the soil moist and the water go out of the pot, better not to use bottom for the pot, when it’s grow as perennial every two years to switch soil, and prune part of the roots and the plants, soil need to be well ventilated with good drainage, rich with organic matter, can us in potting mix or peat soil with perlite or vermiculite.
Blooming information
Bloom season? Summer / Autumn (in warmer climate in the spring)
General information about the flower: Daisy shape flowers, color can be: orange, yellow, red or purple with black in the middle, flowers attract pollinators as bees and butterflies
How to grow Rudbeckia from seeds
Sowing requirement: Temperature 20C-26C (68-80) better 25C
Saving seeds and care until sowing: Dry and dark place in room temperature
Sowing season: Spring after last frost to summer in hardiness zone 3-10a (better to sow it indoor in the end of the winter), autumn to spring in hardiness zone 10b-11a, all year in hardiness zone 11b+
Planting spacing: 15*20cm (6*8 inches)
Depth of Sowing: 0.5-1cm, 0.25-0.5 inches
Conditions for seeds germinate: Moist soil, full sun
Watering requires for Seeds: Average amount of water / Big amount of water
Germination time: 1-3 weeks
Condition of seedling: Moist soil, full sun, better above 20C (68F)
