Rudbeckia

The Rudbeckia plant is a representative of the Astrov family. This genus includes about 40 different species, including both annual and biennial or perennial herbaceous bushes. The homeland of the rudbeck is the North American continent, but today these flowers are most often grown in the countries of Europe and Africa.

Rudbeckia has many popular names. Americans nicknamed the flower "black-eyed Suzanne" - the center of inflorescences of many species often has a dark color. Europeans called the flowers "sun hats", and the double flowers of one of the plant species are commonly known as "golden balls". The scientific name of rudbeckia was obtained from Karl Linnaeus by the name of the famous botanists Rudbekov.

Description of rudbeckia

Rudbeckia has straight or branched shoots with hard pubescence. Their height can reach from 30 cm to 2 or more meters. The foliage has a pinnately divided or dissected structure and an oval or slightly elongated shape. The plates can be up to 20 cm long. In the lower part of the shoots, the leaves grow on petioles, and in the upper part there are sessile leaf blades.

Closer to the middle of summer, baskets about 10-15 cm in diameter appear on the bushes. They are composed of reed flowers, painted in tones of yellow, orange and red-brown. In the middle of the basket are concentrated tubular flowers of no less varied color - from yellow to dark purple. They form a convex “cap” in the center of the inflorescence. Numerous baskets appear on the bushes within 1.5-2 months. After flowering, medium-sized shiny gray seeds are formed, retaining germination for 2-3 years.

In the garden, such plants are used in group plantings; tall species are often used to decorate fences or nondescript walls, or they are planted on the upper tier of a mixborder. Rudbeckia goes well with other garden flowers and shrubs. The main thing is to make sure that its tall bushes do not obscure the sun for the rest of the plantings.

Brief rules for growing rudbeckia

The table shows brief rules for growing rudbeckia in the open field.

Growing rudbeckia from seeds

Sowing seeds

All rudbeckia, not counting the terry forms, are grown from seeds, while perennials can be obtained in another way - by dividing their bushes.

Sowing seeds of rudbeckia is carried out on seedlings or directly into the ground. When sowing directly on the garden bed, it is necessary to prepare the soil well in advance by digging it onto the bayonet of a shovel. Direct sowing starts in mid-June. Before it, the seeds can be pre-soaked in water for about 12-20 hours. Then they are placed in the soil, sowing in grooves and maintaining a distance of about 15 cm. From above, they are slightly covered with earth. Then the crops are watered abundantly, but carefully, being careful not to wash out the seeds. By autumn, such seedlings will form rosettes of leaves, and by the next year they will bloom earlier than plants grown through seedlings. If rudbeckia is already growing on the site, it can self-seeding. In this case, the seedlings will only have to be thinned out periodically.

Growing seedlings

Seeds of any kind of rudbeckia can be grown through seedlings. In this case, rudbeckia is sown at the end of March. For sowing, use boxes filled with a pre-prepared (steamed, frozen or treated with potassium permanganate) substrate. Any universal primer can be used. The seeds are covered with a thin (no more than 3 mm) layer of soil and watered a little through a sprayer. The box is covered with foil and placed in a warm (about 20-22 degrees) place. Seedlings appear in 1-2 weeks. Before sprouts form, the crops are regularly ventilated and the soil moisture is monitored. When the seedlings have 4 true leaves, they are seated so that they are not too crowded. Fortified rudbeckia should be hardened by daily transferring them to the air and increasing the time of such "walks".

Planting rudbeckia in open ground

Landing time and place

Rudbeckia seedlings can be planted outdoors when possible frost has passed. This usually happens by the end of May. For flowers, a sunny or slightly shady place with well-cultivated soil, rich in nutrients and not water retention, is best suited. Sand or crushed stone can be added to clay soil, too acidic - supplemented with dolomite flour. For fertilization when digging, it is also recommended to add compost to the soil.

Landing features

Rudbecky bushes are planted at a distance of 35 to 60 cm from each other, depending on the size of the selected variety. Water is poured into the prepared hole, and then a bush is placed in it. If the garden is warm, the transplanted plants should take root quickly, but in cool weather at night they are recommended to be covered until they are fully rooted. Rudbeckia, which have taken root well in the garden, are able to resist a cold snap.

Perennial species can grow in one place without replanting for about 3-5 years, so the site for them should be chosen especially thoroughly. After planting the seedlings, it is advised to cover the area near the bushes with a layer of compost up to 8 cm thick.

Rudbeckia care

Watering

The bushes do not require particularly careful care: rudbeckia attracts not only with its beauty, but also with sufficient unpretentiousness. Flowers are watered only as the soil dries up in the morning or evening hours. In hot weather, the number of waterings can be increased. Although rudbeckia is moderately drought-resistant, due to the fact that its roots are shallow, they can dry out quite quickly in the heat. A long period of lack of moisture will lead to a decrease in the size of the baskets and their number. After each moistening, the soil should be loosened and the emerging weeds should be removed.

Top dressing

You can feed the bushes at the beginning of their growth - in 1 bucket of water, dissolve st. spoon of nitrophoska, potassium sulfate and the recommended dose of mineral composition for garden flowers. For 1 sq. m beds use about 3 liters of solution. After a couple of weeks, the procedure can be repeated. Another fertilization method is at the beginning of growth and during the period of bud formation.Together with watering, mineral compounds are introduced into the soil.

Transfer

After 5 years of cultivation in one bed, rudbeckia forms numerous shoots. This leads to a thickening of the plantings and a loss of their neatness. Periodic division and subsequent transplantation will help to avoid this. This procedure is carried out before the active development of rudbeckia begins - in early spring, or after the completion of its flowering. If there is a risk of an early fall cold snap, division should be carried out at the beginning of the season. This will surely save young roots from freezing.

The bush is dug out of the ground and divided into parts, each of which should have healthy buds. Slices must be sprinkled with crushed coal or wood ash, and then dried in the sun for about half an hour. Then, parts of the bush are transplanted to the chosen place, maintaining the required distance between the divisions.

Tall (1.5 m and more) species of rudbeck may need supports. As the flowers fade, it is recommended to remove the baskets, tearing them together with the peduncle above the upper leaf. This will help prolong flowering and maintain an attractive flower bed. Dry leaves are also subject to removal. Due to the fact that the roots of many plant species begin to rise to the ground level over time, the bushes should be mulched every year with a layer of fertile soil up to 5 cm thick.

Rudbeckia after flowering

Seed collection

The flowering and ripening of rudbeckia seeds occurs in autumn. They should be collected only during the day and in dry weather - the baskets are quickly saturated with moisture from rain or dew, and the seeds in them can lose their germination and rot. Selected inflorescences are cut off, after putting on gloves, and then put on paper for drying. This takes about a week. When the baskets are properly dry, seeds are taken from their central part and stored in a dry and warm place.

It should be remembered that bushes obtained by seedlings will most likely not give seeds in the first year of life - they will not have time to ripen. In hybrid forms, the seeds may not transfer the maternal color.

Wintering

The shoots of perennial rudbeckia must be cut to ground level before the onset of cold weather. They also do the same with first-year seedlings, which only managed to form a rosette. By themselves, rudbeckia are quite cold-resistant, but due to the proximity of the roots to the ground level, they can sometimes freeze slightly. At the risk of a severe winter with little snow, it is recommended to cover the planting by mulching the bed with humus (about 6 cm thick), sprinkling earth under them or covering the bushes with foliage, grass or spruce branches. With the arrival of spring, the shelter is removed so that the plants do not rot and do not rot.

Reproduction of rudbeckia

Rudbeckia bushes are most often propagated by seeds or by dividing the bush. It is believed that it will also be possible to get new plants with the help of green cuttings. They are cut from May to late summer.

Pests and diseases

Rudbeckia, which is properly cared for, rarely becomes a target for pests, and also resists disease well. Caterpillars or larvae feeding on foliage are usually capable of harming the bushes. In rare cases, other garden pests appear on the bushes, but most often this happens with bushes weakened by improper care.

Sometimes powdery mildew can appear on plants, which manifests itself in the form of a light loose bloom. The affected bush must be treated with copper sulfate (80 g per 1 bucket of water) or colloidal sulfur (1% solution). Fungicides will help against leaf spots or rust.

Brown spots on foliage may indicate the appearance of a leaf nematode. The diseased bushes will have to be removed from the garden, and the rest should be treated with Bazamid, Nemaphos or another similar drug, following the instructions. If such signs appear on annual plantings, in the fall all the bushes are completely removed and destroyed, and the garden bed is carefully dug up and spilled with a dark solution of potassium permanganate. Nematodes can also cause damage to shoots and slow growth of the bush.Marigolds planted nearby will help protect rudbeckia from nematodes - these flowers are considered a natural defense against pests.

Types and varieties of rudbeckia with photos and names

The following types of rudbeck are most often used for garden decoration. They can be conditionally divided into one- or biennials that do not winter in the middle lane, as well as perennial species.

Annual rudbeckia

Rudbeckia hairy (Rudbeckia hirta)

One of the North American species. Rudbeckia hirta is used as an annual or biennial. It has coarsely pubescent stems that can be straight or branched. Their height is about a meter. Rosette ovate foliage is located on petioles. On the stems there are alternate sessile pubescent plates with a serrated edge. Inflorescences are formed on high peduncles and reach 10 cm in diameter. The marginal flowers are painted in a grayish-purple color, and the middle ones are yellow in color. The basket is located on a convex receptacle.

The following varieties of such rudbeckia are especially popular, among which there are very compact flower varieties:

• Goldsturm - bushes up to 60 cm in size with 10 cm baskets.
• Goldflamme - plant height is about 30 cm. Inflorescences from 10 cm in diameter, with yellow-red petals and a dark reddish-purple center.
• Indian Summe ("Indian Summer") - bushes about 90 cm high with marginal flowers of orange-yellow color with a dark brown heart.
• Marmalade - 60-centimeter bushes, yellow reed flowers with a bronze tint. The ear is dark.
• Toto Rustic - variety about 30 cm high, marginal flowers are bicolor, brightly colored.
• Cherry Brandy - half-meter bushes with spectacular cherry-burgundy inflorescences.

Rudbeckia bicolor (Rudbeckia bicolor)

The species forms erect bushes up to 70 cm high. Rudbeckia bicolor has pubescent shoots and lanceolate leaf blades. The baskets are brightly colored, their size is about 7 cm. The reed flowers are placed in two rows and have a yellow or orange color. Sometimes the area near the base is colored dark purple. The size of the receptacle-cylinder reaches 2 cm; it contains almost black tubular flowers. Blooming bushes starts from mid-June and can last until the autumn cold.

The most common variety is Herbstwald ("Autumn Forest"). Its bushes are half a meter high, and the size of the baskets is about 7 cm. The marginal flowers can form several rows. They are painted in shades of yellow and reddish brown, and the middle ones are black.

Rudbeckia grasping (Rudbeckia amplexicaulis)

Forms bushes up to 80 cm high. Rudbeckia amplexicaulis has opposite sessile leaves, devoid of pubescence. They are oval or elongated. The top of the leaf is pointed, and there are small denticles along the edges. The reed flowers are bright yellow, the receptacle height reaches 3 cm, on it there are tubular flowers of a deep brown color. The name of the species refers to the position of the marginal flowers: they are lowered to the stem and, as it were, cover it.

Rudbeckia triloba (Rudbeckia triloba)

The height of the bushes reaches 1.4 m. Rudbeckia triloba blooms very elegantly and profusely, but not too long. Such plants have lower leaves with three lobes, while the upper ones are distinguished by an oval shape. The foliage has a deep green color. Baskets are medium-sized, combining yellow reed flowers with dark brown median flowers.

Perennial rudbeckia

Rudbeckia brilliant, or radiant (Rudbeckia fulgida)

The height of the bushes reaches 60 cm. Rudbeckia fulgida has narrow foliage. The baskets are about 9 cm in diameter. They are formed by reddish-black tubular flowers and orange marginal flowers. In the "variabis" form, tubular flowers are dark purple in color, and reed flowers are more yellowish in color. The common varieties Goldstar and Goldsturm have a brown heart and golden-yellow marginal flowers.

Rudbeckia dissected, or split-leaved (Rudbeckia laciniata)

One of the types of rudbeck that endures partial shade. The height of its bushes is usually about 2 m. Rudbeckia laciniata has a branching rhizome located at a shallow depth and growing horizontally. On the stems there is a tripartite foliage, at the bottom of the bush there is a pinnately-split foliage. The size of the inflorescences reaches 10 cm. They include up to 3 rows of bright yellow reed flowers. The tubular flowers are light yellow. Inflorescences appear by July.

Of all the variety of varieties of this type, the Golden Ball is the most widespread. It is distinguished by double or semi-double spherical baskets up to 10 cm in diameter. The tubular flowers in them are greenish in color, and the reed flowers are bright yellow.

Western rudbeckia (Rudbeckia occidentalis)

In appearance, such plants resemble tongueless daisies. The dimensions of Rudbeckia occidentalis can be up to 1.5 m in height. The variety Black Beauty due to the absence of marginal flowers, the baskets resemble dark cones, framed by green leaves of bracts.

Giant rudbeckia (Rudbeckia maxima)

The species forms large bushes. The foliage of Rudbeckia maxima has a bluish waxed bloom. The receptacle of the baskets has the shape of a cone. It has dark tubular and yellow marginal flowers. The inflorescences are held on high peduncles and can be used for cutting. The species is notable for its frost resistance and ability to withstand drought.

Rudbeckia lustrous (Rudbeckia nitida)

The height of the bushes is about 2 m. Rudbeckia nitida has an oblong glossy foliage. The size of the inflorescences is about 12 cm. They are made up of greenish tubular flowers and yellow marginal flowers. Among the most decorative varieties:

• Goldshire - branched bushes up to 2.5 m tall. The foliage is light green, the size of the baskets reaches 12 cm. The ligulate flowers are colored yellow, and the middle ones are green. Flowering lasts about 2 months.
• Herbston - 2-meter bushes, marginal flowers in baskets are strongly bent.

Rudbeckia beautiful, or beautiful (Rudbeckia speciosa)

The bushes of this rudbeckia reach about 55 cm in height. Rudbeckia speciosa has rounded or slightly elongated foliage with denticles at the edges. The baskets reach a diameter of 10 cm. They are made up of dark brown median flowers and orange-golden reeds, on the limb of which there are 3 denticles. Flowering lasts about 2 months.

Rudbeckia hybrid (Rudbeckia hybrida)

This group includes various hybrids of hairy, glossy and dissected rudbeck. Rudbeckia hybrida combines plants with the largest baskets - their diameter can be up to 19 cm. Most often they have brown-purple tubular flowers and golden-brown reeds. Among these varieties:

• Gloriosa Daisy - can be grown as an annual or perennial plant. Bushes reach 1.2 cm in height. The size of the inflorescences is about 16 cm. They are formed by up to 3 rows of reed flowers, which have a monochromatic yellow or motley yellow-brown color. The middle of each basket is dark brown in color.
• Double Daisy - a highly branching variety with a rough surface of the stems. Their height reaches 1.2 m. The foliage has dense pubescence and ovoid shape. The sizes of the baskets reach 17 cm. They are formed by brown median and variegated or one-color marginal flowers.

Rudbeckia and Echinacea

Echinacea, a member of the same family, was originally considered one of the many species of rudbeck. Both plants originate from the southeast of America and prefer bright places and moist fertile soil. Although after half a century, echinacea was nevertheless isolated in a separate genus, sometimes its purple appearance is still found today under the name of rudbeckia purpurea. The breeders even managed to breed a hybrid of two plants, called "ehibekia".

Despite the similarity in structure, it is quite easy to distinguish between rudbeckia and echinacea: their inflorescences have different colors.The color palette of rudbeckia includes shades of yellow, orange and brown. Echinacea baskets are most often colored purple, pink, or crimson, although varietal plants can be colored differently. The very name of the flower also speaks of some of its features. Echinacea comes from the word prickly. Its sharp bracts and receptacle are indeed quite tough and prickly. The same parts of the rudbecky bushes are more pleasant to the touch.

In addition, unlike echinacea, which is widely used for the preparation of medicinal potions, rudbeckia is not considered medicinal.