Rudbeckia maximum

RODGERSIA     Native to China and Japan, Rodgersia are large plants with large compound leaves. All are moisture and part, to full shade lovers, and will look their best only when these conditions are met. Ideal sites are bogs, pond or brook sides and water gardens. Flowers are white or light to dark pink and occur in astilbe-like panicles in early summer. 3-4ft. tall and, in time, 5ft. wide. Bold and spectacular when in favored locations. Zone 5.

pinnata ‘Chocolate Wing’     Foliage emerges in spring a deep chocolate bronze and slowly fades to dark green. Flowers are pale pink with a dark red eye, early to mid summer. 32ins. tall.

pinnata ‘Elegans’     Pink plumes over broad coarse leaves, 30-35ins. tall. Zone 4.

pinnata ‘Fireworks’     Dark green foliage with red edges, and clear, deep pink flowers in summer. 1 1/2ft. tall. Zone 5.

tabularis (Astilboides tabularis)    Large, broad, dark green leaves are round and slightly lobed, up to 3' across! Creamy white flowers bloom in plumes well above the foliage in June-July. Plants can grow 3' high and wide. Requires cool, moist conditions. Zones 5-7.

RUDBECKIA (Coneflower) 

RUDBECKIA fulgida ‘Early Bird Gold’New    Very similar in every respect to R. 'Goldsturm' except that this variety blooms much earlier in the season,(early July), and continues for a few weeks after the valiant 'Goldsturm' has given up the effort. 24ins. high. Zone 4.

RUDBECKIA fulgida 'Goldsturm' (Black-eyed Susan)     Gold daisies in late summer, 2', 1999 PPA Perennial Plant of the Year. Zone 4.

fulgida var. ‘Deamii’ New     This North American native has large, orange-yellow daisy flowers with slender petals and raised, dark brown, central cones, blooming late summer to mid-autumn. Grows 36” tall with a tidy clumping habit. Drought tolerant. Recipient of the RHS Award of Garden Merit. Zone 4.

RUDBECKIA grandiflora ‘Sundance’New     An Oklahoma native with 4ft. stalks carrying large yellow flowers with down-facing rays and large, purple-brown, pointy center cones whose seeds are devoured by finches. Plants have a neat habit and sturdy stems that remain upright. Zone 5.

Rudbeckia hirta ‘Autumn Colors’ (Gloriosa Daisy)    A fitting name for this ravishing, bi-colored Gloriosa that beautifully combines shades of yellow, red, orange and bronze. Blooms July-Sept. with flowers up to 7” across. 2’ tall.

Rudbeckia hirta ‘Cherry Brandy’ (Gloriosa Daisy)    Masses of cherry-red flowers bloom all summer on this outstanding performer. Grows 24ins. tall. Shows good heat and drought tolerance and looks spectacular in large containers and in the border.

Rudbeckia hirta ‘Sonora’ (Gloriosa Daisy)     5-6” radiant gold daisies with a broad mahogany ring around an even darker center.    

RUDBECKIA laciniata 'Herbstonne'     6-8ft. tall with loads of green- centered, yellow daisies. A big, bodacious and well behaved, late summer plant. Zone 5. 

Rudbeckia maxima     Large, glaucous, blue-green leaves form a loose rosette from which arise 6-7' tall flower stalks that bloom in mid to late June through July with flowers that have downward-facing, golden petals and exceptionally large cones, sometime measuring 2” high. The unusual glaucous foliage, tall flower stems and large central cone give this Rudbeckia a distinctive look.  Zone 5.

Rudbeckia speciosa ‘Viette’s Little Suzy’      ‘Little Suzy’ presents a more relaxed, informal, natural appearance compared to that of R. ‘Goldstrum’. Flowers are more yellow than gold/orange and less densely packed, imparting a softer more airy impression. Shorter, at only 20ins., but every bit as long blooming as ‘Goldstrum’, easily lasting from early to mid summer into fall. Clean foliage. 

Rudbeckia triloba     R. triloba gets 3-3½” tall and is a blooming engine easily producing thousands of flowers over the course of the season. Flowers are 1½ “ across, button-like, gold discs with a black central cone. Easy anywhere in full sun with average soil. It loves our bone dry parking lot where it self-seeds profusely and flourishes all summer long. Full sun. Zone 4. 

RUELLIA humilis (Wild Petunia)     A neat, mounding habit 1½ft. tall & wide, and a display of light lavender, petunia-like flowers for many weeks in late summer. Plants have a voracious root system that defies drought. Seeds around a bit and unwanted volunteers should be removed when young, before the roots get a purchase on the site. Zone 4.