ONCE, MORE MONARCH BUTTERFLIES shared the joy of July-through-September Rudbeckia season with me. Now, sadly, those butterflies are fewer here, but the biggest, most giving Rudbeckia I grow, ‘Herbstsonne,’ keeps putting out its flowers like a beacon, just in case they show up in droves again. With it as inspiration, in recent years I tried two newer-to-me Rudbeckia: ‘Henry Eilers,’ and ‘Prairie Glow.’
Whether we call them black-eyed susans or coneflowers, there are a couple of dozen species of Rudbeckia, an American genus in the Compositae or Asteraceae or simply “daisy family” that has produced many popular garden perennials, biennials and even annuals.
I long ago stopped growing ‘Goldsturm,’ from the species R. fulgida, probably the most familiar Rudbeckia of all. Like many gardeners, I planted lots when ‘Goldsturm’ was first popularized (along with Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’ and purple coneflower, remember?) and guess I OD’d on it. A good plant, but here are three I like better:
rudbeckia ‘herbstsonne’
MY LONGEST Rudbeckia relationship has proven to be ‘Herbstsonne,’ whose name translates as autumn sun, and which earned a Royal Horticulture Society Award of Garden Merit in 2002. Whether it is Rudbeckia nitida or Rudbeckia laciniata or a hybrid of the two, I do not know; depends who you ask.
It has been with me more years than I can recall—certainly a decade-plus, and probably more like 15. What is now a big clump reliably erupts around July at the far side of the property, on a direct axis from where I work all day. Though I sit more than 100 feet away, there is no missing this 6-plus-footer with many weeks of vivid yellow flowers.
It has duked it out in a giant stand of even-taller ornamental grasses without even a hiccup, and truly: I have done almost nothing but sit here and admire ‘Herbstsonne.’ As with all Rudbeckia, birds will be happy if you fail to deadhead and seeds are set; butterflies appear to be happy with the whole genus from first bloom to last.
Give it sun, and maybe some support if your late summer’s especially windy or stormy (generally this one stands up on its own just fine), and expect to become old friends, too.
rudbeckia triloba ‘prairie glow’
I DIDN’T KNOW when I planted it whether Rudbeckia triloba ‘Prairie Glow’ would be as durable as my beloved ‘Herbstsonne,’ since catalogs refer to it as a biennial to short-lived perennial, also saying it self-sows. No matter; it seemed to shape up fast to 3-4 feet high. A few young plants from Select Seeds made a good show in their first year (and seed is also available, along with various other Rudbeckia). I suspect that there may be variation in years to come if it does indeed self-sow—but even the basic yellow-flowered triloba is a handsome thing, if some appear among the offspring.
One year in, I had about half my plants survive, and a couple of seedlings, too; by year three I needed to add more young plants to keep the generations coming.
I planted my ‘Prairie Glow’ among the annual silver-leaf sunflowers (speaking of composite family members) that I like so much, where the smaller, much-branched Rudbeckia is sort of filling in the lower and mid-level, as if there are different tiers and scales of sunflower-like blooms in concert. Nice.
rudbeckia ‘henry eilers’
HOW DID I MISS ‘Henry Eilers,’ introduced to the nursery trade in 2003, until recently? Apparently this selection of the species R. subtomentosa was discovered alongside an Illinois railroad route by a nurseryman the plant was eventually named for. What caught his eye, and will catch yours: The yellow rays are not flat as usual, but rolled up, like quills. In just one season, starting from a small plant, this one was already nearly 4 feet tall, with up to 5 feet predicted.
‘Henry Eilers’ looked from the start as if it intended to be a strong performer, the way ‘Herbstsonne’ has proven; I saw a bold stand of it in a friend’s garden this summer. I have also read to expect self-sowns, which isn’t a bad thing, but I haven’t had any so far in a few years. (Is Henry too tall for you? There is a one-third-shorter ‘Little Henry,’ too.)
what about hardiness (and bunnies, and woodchucks)?
HOW HARDY are all these Rudbeckia? Depends who you ask, so let’s use just one source for all. Missouri Botanical Garden says ‘Herbstsonne’ is Zone 5-9; triloba is Zone 4-8; and subtomentosa ‘Henry Eilers’ is Zones 4-8.
As for animal damage, the 2014 rabbits here were particularly pleased at the arrival of the two new Rudbeckia, savaging the foliage and stems of some of each variety down to nubbins. I have never in all these years seen them go for ‘Herbstsonne,’ whose cutleaf foliage is very different in shape and texture, but who knows whether this is just coincidence or some actual preference. Woodchucks, too, seem to love these (and their Compositae cousins the asters as well). Damn.
Take heart — monarchs are on the rebound this year, apparently. :-)
Thanks, Donna, for the uplifting link!
We are doing our part…have “born” 10 monarchs and have at least 10 more cocoons with at least a dozen and chomping away monarch caterpillars…gotta love florida sunshine. We have watched the birth process from start through adulthood. Am amazed every time. Watching them make their cocoon o opening up and drying their wings is stupendous.
Lucky you to bear witness to it, Linda. Almost no monarchs here in recent years, sadly.
Hi Margaret, I think you hear this often, but I LOVE your posts, radio shows, books, etc. Thanks so much for all your info, links, healthy approach etc.
One question: I have hunted around for Rudbeckia, Herbstsonne coneflowers seeds or plants after your post about them. No one seems to have any. One small site hasn’t replied after I supposedly left an order (Cottage Gardens Seeds). Any thoughts on where I could get this? I don’t suppose you recall where you obtained yours. I am making a wildflower meadow at my son’s farm (approx 80 x 80 feet). I think this would be a marvelous addition there.
Thank you so much!
Sally Laegeler
Highland Park, IL
For those wondering about trying ‘Herbstonne’ past zone 9, into zone 10, I can vouch that this statuesque beauty is reliably perennial here too. Maybe a decade ago, before drought worries, I grew this rudbeckia in Los Angeles, where many perennials can’t handle the lack of winter chill/dormancy. I love R. triloba too, and would grow it again as an annual in containers maybe. Great idea to grow it among the legs of sunflowers.
I have grown Herbstonne in South West Nova Scotia Canada for at least 7 years,it just grows and grows..so delightful! Still in bloom now.
I have always wanted some Herbstonne seeds but have not been able to find any, do you know anyone that sells them, Thanks Barb.
Even though the Prairie Glow may be biennial, the fantastic variations of its prolific offspring will delight you!
The only pest I have had is the voracious woodchuck.
Enjoy the “babies”!
Good to know about the variable babies, Cheryl–and as for the woodchuck, that’s a dirty word around here. :)
I grow Rudbeckia Laciniata in zone 4 – it is taking over my garden but I can’t bear to rid myself of it. It grows to nearly 10 feet in my garden alongside Cup Plant which is also taking over. I will have a garden of Rudbeckia, Cup Plant and Joe Pye but hey, it looks awesome this time of year!
Great post as usual, Margaret, but do you grow rudbeckia maxima? I have a few and love watching their very tall flowers every summer.
I am growing R. “Little Henry”–a dwarf form of your Henry Eilers–nice for those of us with smaller gardens.
There was supposed to have been a woman called Susan who collected them. People thought the flowers looked like spiders too. You do see a spider on the flower too. Many of the more extreme petalled plants, like the flower nes withquills or long petals, were culled out in the past.