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01-09-2003, 09:02 PM

In article ,
oway (Tyra Trevellyn) wrote:

From: (paghat)
Date: Mon, Sep 1, 2003 11:02 AM
Message-id:

In article , "Rick"
wrote:

We would like to have black eyed susans in our yard. Do we buy plants
or do
they come in seeds? When is the best time of year to plant. Thanks...

There are many species of black-eyed susans, but the majority sold will
be
either Rudbeckia fulgida, which is an annual, or R. hirta, which is a
long-lived perennial, & I think the latter is more to be recommended.

If you want the annuals, from seed would be preferable. The perennial also
grows easily from seed, but you can get a head start on them planting them
from potted starts or gallon clumps already mature. The most popular
cloned cultivar of R. hirta is "Goldsturm" which does not grow true from
seed & is best purchased as a mature gallon sized. If you settle for seeds
that are labeled "Goldsturm," they'll grow into something "close enough
to
get by" but probably taller, thinner, &amp less compact. Most other R.
hirta varieties grow true from seeds.

snip

paghat:
The info is good, but you've switched the species names: 'Goldsturm' is a
cultivar of Rudbeckia fulgida (a reliable perennial), known sometimes as
Rudbeckia fulgida var. sullivantiii. Rudbeckia hirta is hardy to Zone 5 but
tends to behave more like a biennial or short-lived perennial (and can
be grown
as an annual). Cultivar names are, among others, 'Marmalade' and 'Irish Eyes.'

Best,
Tyra
nNJ usa z7a

Sorry 'bout that, I thanks for quick correction.

-paggers

--
"Of what are you afraid, my child?" inquired the kindly teacher.
"Oh, sir! The flowers, they are wild," replied the timid creature.
-from Peter Newell's "Wild Flowers"
See the Garden of Paghat the Ratgirl: http://www.paghat.com/