Rudbeckia

[srodders]

Hi I have grown some Rudbeckia (Gloriosa Daisy) and want to know if they are perennial or annual. Having looked up many sites some say perrennial, some say usually grown as an annual, some say annual. Which is it?

[zazen999]

I think what they mean is, in their natural home they are perennial but over here it gets too cold so they die and have to be grown as an annual. I've not managed to get them to come back again after the first flowering year.

[srodders]

So I may have a chance then if it doesn't get too low where I plant them.

[Twinsane]

Save some seed just in case

[kentvegplot]

I'm afraid it's more complicated than that - some Rudbeckias are true perennials, some are sold as annuals (for example, R 'Golden Brown') but may come through the winter (mine did, even though we had -10 last winter).

Do you know which Rudbeckia species you have? That will help work out if its annual/perennial

[srodders]

These are the ones

Johnsons Seeds

It says usually grown as an annual which makes me think these could be perennial in the right situation. If they are just annual I won't bother withem as I prefer a plant and forget type of flower bed.

[zazen999]

I'm afraid it's more complicated than that - some Rudbeckias are true perennials, some are sold as annuals (for example, R 'Golden Brown') but may come through the winter (mine did, even though we had -10 last winter).

Do you know which Rudbeckia species you have? That will help work out if its annual/perennial

I looked out the specific species and it says 'usually grown as an annual' which is why I said they might be perennial in their home environment but might not make it in the UK.

srodders:
I think the only way would be to suck it and see......or have a look around gardens in your area and see if anyone has the same plant and knock on the door and ask!!!

[BFG]

I guess the "HHP" icon at the top stands for Half Hardy Perennial, which normally means "can't take a frost". i.e. not hardy at all then really.

[srodders]

Good spot there BFG. HHPs usually are OK down here so with a bit of luck I'll be OK.

[BFG]

That's good. I didn't notice your location.

A good layer of mulch will give more protection if you do need it. That part of my plans for my over wintering my newish Lemon Verbena and Pineapple Sage. Oh and crossing fingers.

[Tam]

I have loads of Rudbeckias that I have had for years, but I musts say that I mulch them heavily as I do like them. I also have a Chocolate Cosmos that I have had in the same spot for seven years and is now a huge plant with about a hundred flowers open at a time - I intend to split it next spring - I put about a foot of shredded mulch over this each Autumn.

[zazen999]

That's great Tam - can you pop your location into your profile so that others know where you are......

[rana]

If you want a reliable perennial Rudbeckia try R. fulgens 'Goldstrum'. It is pretty hardy and will quickly form clumps, growing to about 3 or 4 feet and flowering from late summer right through autumn.

[Tam]

I can certainly agree about "goldsturm" - here is one than has been in situ for longer than I can remember !