(Rudbeckia hirta) Perennial. Zone 3-8. 90-100 days.

A classic garden favourite, Rusbeckia or Black Eyed Susan, grows in almost any soil all by itself! I remember this as one of the first flowers I learned about as a small child. The flowers have strong, rigid stems and reach 3 feet in height.

A true perennial, Gloriosa Daisy will have some flowers in its first year as it establishes, but oodles in the years that follow!

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Growth Habit: Upright growth to 3 feet high, strong stems with 6” flowers.

Sun Requirements: Full sun

Soil Preference: Average, well-drained soil; will tolerate poor soil.

When to Plant: Direct seed 2 weeks before last frost date OR start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost date. You can also plant in Summer or Fall for blooms the following year.

How to Plant: 

Direct sow:  sow seeds outdoors and cover lightly with soil. Keep the soil bed moist until germination. Thin young plants to 1 foot apart.

Transplant: sow seeds indoors in flats or containers. Cover seeds only very lightly with soil. Seeds will germinate in 14-21 days. Harden off seedlings before transplanting after risk of frost has passed. Space plants 1 foot apart.

When to Harvest: Harvest Rudbeckia flowers in Summer and Fall. Deadhead regularly to extend flowering.

How to Harvest:  For cut flowers, harvest with stems when flowers are half open. For edible or medicinal use, harvest flowers when they are fully open, and remove petals from the flower centre.

Uses: Rudbeckia is beautiful, edible, and medicinal. Excellent cut flowers. Use flower petals fresh or dried in tea or jellies, or as “sprinkles” on desserts and salads.

Each packet contains approximately 100 open pollinated seeds.