Tall varieties of rudbeckia are great for creating larger groups in parks and gardens, where they present themselves beautifully in the company of trees and shrubs, and small groups in flower beds in combination with the flame, varieties of Newbelgian astra, common, goldenrod or Chinese miscanthus . They are also appreciated in naturalistic gardens. The following rudbeckies are particularly suitable for these assumptions: naked Rudbeckia laciniata, quasi-thickened R. subtomentosa and three-lobed R. triloba. Some rudbeckies (R. fulgida var. Deamii and var. Speciosa, R. hirta, R. subtomentosa, R.triloba) can be used in high flower meadows.
Low varieties of rudbeckia, especially hairy, are suitable for flower beds, borders and rock gardens. They also look interesting in boxes on balconies and terraces. Rudbeckie is also grown as a cut flower. Rudbeckia is also used in winter plant compositions. For this, fully developed inflorescences are dried. After removing the leaves, we tie them in bunches and dry them with the inflorescences down in dark and well ventilated rooms.
Rudbeckia care
Drying flower baskets in semolina, corn or a mixture of sand and borax in a ratio of 1: 1 or 1: 2 also gives good results. Such versatile use of rudbeckia is facilitated by the ease of its cultivation. They grow in any moderately moist soil and in sunny or slightly shaded positions. However, they bloom more abundantly in humus-rich soils, rich in nutrients.
Therefore, it is recommended, especially in cut flower cultivation, before planting with manure or multi-component fertilizer, and during growth fertilize in spring and at the turn of June and July with a multi-component fertilizer at a dose of 80 g / m². Rudbeckia tolerate drought well, but then, as in cool and rainy years, they bloom less. They are not affected by polluted air and do not require careful care.
One of the few care treatments is the removal of faded baskets so that the next inflorescences develop faster, and in the spring a short cut of the stems left for winter. Only naked rudbeckia needs to be tied up and supported. Rudbeckia is resistant to diseases and pests. It happens, however, that during prolonged drought, it can be attacked by spider mites. In turn, rainy summer and autumn favor the development of powdery or downy mildew.
The genus rudbeckiaincludes about 20 species of annuals, biennials and perennials.They are medium-tall and tall plants and, as in the case of varieties of hairy rudbeckia, short. Two-colored rudbeckia (beautiful) R. hirta var. pulcherrima is an annual species with stems and leaves covered with dense and coarse hair. Rudbeckia hairy Rudbeckia hirta is basically a two-year species grown as an annual plant. There are many varieties in cultivation that differ in plant height, size, color and inflorescence filling.
Popular varieties include: 'Cats Eye' (yellow lingual flowers and green center), 'Chim Chimine' (yellow, golden and brown flowers), 'Goldilocks' (yellow-orange, full and semi-double flowers with an almost black center) ), 'Marmelade' (orange-yellow flowers with a dark center), 'Toto Gold' with small baskets (golden-yellow flowers with a brown center).
Rudbeckia hairyrequires fertile, permeable, sufficiently moist and sunny places Seeds (achenes) are sown under cover from February to March, then we dive the seedlings into multi-cell pallets and plant the plants into the ground every 25-30 cm from mid-May.We can also sow the seeds directly into the ground in the second half of April.
Perennial Rudbeckies
Rudbeckia brilliantRudbeckia fulgida can grow in dry places. The most common botanical varieties are: var. deamii, var. speciosa, var. sullivantii. The 'Goldstrum' variety, which has golden yellow flowers with an almost black center, is very popular. It is an impressive tufted perennial, long and profusely flowering (from July to October). Perfect for discounts in large groups (10-20 in total).
Rudbeckia shinyRudbeckia nitida has leathery, shiny (hence the name) leaves. However, only varieties that are long-lived and resistant to frost are grown, such as 'Herbstsonne' and 'Juligold'.
Rudbeckia nakedgrows quite intensively with runners. Two varieties are of fundamental importance in the cultivation: 'Golden Glow' ('Goldball') with flaccid shoots 180 cm long and 'Goldquelle' with lemon-yellow and full baskets (a very good variety for discounts).
Rudbeckia nebykutnerowatareaches a height of 80-140 cm and has pale yellow flowers with a dark center. It looks beautiful in homogeneous groups and in perennial beds.
Rudbeckia three-lobedblooms profusely and for a long time, from July to November, but it is short-lived, so it is often grown as an annual . Perennial rudbeckies reproduce by division from March to May. The divided plants are planted at a distance of 40x50 cm and 50x50 cm. Rudbeckia naked and brilliant can also be propagated from seeds, preferably supercooled for 4-6 weeks, because then they germinate better. From January, 3-4 seeds are sown in pots. They germinate after 2-3 weeks at 18-20ºC. After the seedlings appear, they are grown in cool greenhouses.
