Rudbeckia hirta
Origin: Southern Oregon
Improvement status: Breeding population
Seeds per packet: ~250
Germination tested 11/2025: 86%
Life cycle: Perennial
We're excited to be offering his diverse mix of black-eyed-susans from Ann & Noel of Homestead Culture in southern Oregon. Ann loves Rudbeckia, and this passion led her to bring together this stunning array of diversity. You can expect, as she puts it, "a gorgeous range of sunset colors, including pale pink and butter yellow." Every generation is full of wonderful suprises, including doubles and bi-color blooms. Ann writes, "This particular grex celebrates Rudbeckia’s diversity, consisting of as much of the spectrum as I could find. I combined several varieties and mixes (Sahara, Prairie Sun, Gloriosa Double, Cherokee Sunset, Josie, Cherry Brandy, etc.) and grew them all together to hybridize, letting nature do her work over the seasons."
As with all Rudbeckia, you can also expect deer resistance, a long flowering period, popularity among pollinators, and easy self-sowing if birds don't eat all your seeds! You can use the fresh flowers for cut flowers, or the dried seed-heads for dry arrangements. The flower petals can even be used to make a dye for fabric.
GROWING TIPS: Seeds require 1-3 months cold-moist stratification, so either direct sow or sow in flats in the fall or very early spring, or else use a refrigerator. When planting, lightly cover seeds as they need light for germination. Space plants 1-2 feet apart, and expect 3-6 feet of height. Appreciates full sun and moderate moisture, though will become very drought tolerant once established.
