Unpretentious flowers suitable for cultivation by beginners and experienced gardeners include perennial rudbeckia. Her chamomile-like flowers bloom from the beginning of summer and continue to decorate the flowerbed in the garden until the first cold weather.
Rudbeckia perennial
It is widely known in the Russian Federation due to the variety of varieties. Popularity is associated with prolonged flowering, unpretentiousness and ease of care. Landscape designers prefer to use Marmelad or Yantar rudbeckia in projects, and apartment residents decorate balconies and loggias of undersized Beka, since its size does not exceed 30 cm. A large selection of varieties allows you to choose flowers for every taste, create an unusual flower garden, decorate an unsightly place on the site near the house.
How to bloom
The origin and appearance of rudbeckia
Rudbeckia flower is a member of the family Asteraceae, which presents 40 varieties. The natural conditions for its growth are the territory of the northern part of America. Colonialists, who first encountered unusual flowers, began to grow them as decorative ones. With their help, they quickly spread to Europe.
Important! Rudbeckia is the official name for the flower. Unofficial options include the black-eyed Suzanne and a sun hat.
What does rudbeckia look like
Main characteristics:
- the stalk is erect, covered with small villi, casting a silvery color in the sunlight;
- foliage - oval, slightly elongated, cirrus complex or whole structure. The surface is painted in a bright green tint;
- inflorescences resemble a basket in diameter up to 20 cm. The central part of the flower is convex, brownish or blackish;
- petal of yellowish, orange, purple, pink, reddish-brown, orange-yellow colors.
Note! In different varieties, the color of the flower, size, flowering time may vary. Before purchasing planting material, you need to find out details about each variety of rudbeckia, its endurance to high temperatures, lack of water, cold weather.
The best varieties of perennial rudbeckia
Among flower growers, the following flower varieties are more popular.
Dissected Rudbeckia (Rudbeckia Laciniata)
It grows to 2 m, the root system is branched, horizontal. The lower sheets are cirrus-complex, and the upper are three-parted. About 10 cm across the inflorescence-basket, they consist of several rows of bright yellow petals that look like a ball. Dissected rudbeckia blooms for about 2 months, the period begins in July. In its midst, almost the entire bush is covered with flowers.
Rudbeckia occidentalis
Bushes ranging in size from 1.2 to 1.5 m. Rudbeckia flowers resemble fragrant or non-lingual chamomile. Their shape is similar to a cone or an elongated cone of black color with greenish bracts. Flowering time - from mid-June to early September. Two western flower varieties have spread in Russia: Green Wizard and Black Beauty. Both are not afraid of dry weather.
Black Beauty
Giant rudbeckia (Rudbeckia maxima)
Perennial is different:
- a bluish-green shade of foliage with a touch of wax;
- external flowers of bright yellow color;
- petals in the central part of a dark color;
- an inflorescence basket in the shape of an oblong cone.
The average size of a giant rudbeckia is 1.2-1.5 m. The variety is resistant to frost and drought, prefers to grow in direct sunlight or in light partial shade. The beginning of flowering occurs in late July, the end - in the first week of September.
Glossy rudbeckia (Rudbeckia Nitida)
Reaches 250 cm, differs in large flowers. Flower baskets are conical, yellowish-green color, large petal, golden color. Shiny rudbeckia foliage with denticles along the edges, lanceolate with a dark green tint. Flowering begins in July and lasts until the beginning of September.
Rudbeckia beautiful or beautiful (Rudbeckia Speciosa)
Bushes do not exceed 60 cm, foliage uneven along the edges, oblong or rounded shape. Inflorescences in diameter do not exceed 10 cm, consist of:
- of central flowers with a brownish-black color;
- external - yellowish-orange color, at the end of the limb with three teeth.
Important! Brilliant and purple rudbeckia are frost-resistant, which allows them to be grown in Siberia. The latter has an unusual shade of purple, which distinguishes it against the background of relatives with a yellow color.
Popular varieties of Rudbeckia Hybrid (Rudbeckia Hybrida)
Hybrids were bred from several varieties of rudbeckia. General characteristics:
- large inflorescences across 19 cm;
- brownish central petals mixed with violet;
- external brown-yellow shade up to 15 cm long.
Important! The fruit of the garden variety is small in size, inside it is a cavity with shiny black seeds. 1 g contains up to 1.8 thousand pieces, their freshness is maintained for three years.
Gloriosa Daisy
The size of hybrid bushes does not exceed 120 cm. The inflorescence basket is 16 cm across, 1-3 rows of variegated or plain petals with a yellowish tint are distinguished in it. The middle is painted in a dark brownish color. The variety is characterized by abundant flowering, it is able to be sown in open ground independently.
Gloriosa Daisy
Double daisy
The shoots are highly branched, the stems have a rough surface, the average size is 1.2 m. The foliage is whole egg-shaped, terry-inflorescence baskets across 17 cm. Double Daisy refers to perennial, does not require special care. In a sunny place of growth, flowering is more plentiful. Flowers are yellow to brown.
Important! Double Daisy is resistant to diseases and pests, powdery mildew and caterpillars are the main enemies.
Varieties of annual rudbeckia
The following varieties are popular annuals.
Hairy Rudbeckia (Rudbeckia Hirta)
Refers to common varieties with thick and hard shoots, the surface of which looks rough due to coarse hairs. Foliage about 10 cm long with notches along the edges and a fluff of saturated green color. The flowers have golden yellow, blue, red and white color, the standard size is from 0.8 to 1 m. It is a biennial, in Russia it is grown as an annual variety. Hirt rudbeckia propagation is carried out by seeds.
Russian gardeners prefer to plant varieties of Indian summer, cherry brandy, cappuccino.
Rudbeckia bicolor (Rudbeckia Bicolor)
Gardeners believe that this variety is easier to grow than terry (hairy) rudbeckia. It belongs to decorative annuals, grows no higher than 1 m. Flowers with a black core, dark orange inner circle and yellow outer circle.
Flowers prefer sunny places where they grow more actively. The variety adapted well to local conditions; landing on the site takes place on May days. Flowers persist until late autumn. Inflorescences have a beautiful color: from yellowish or orange-yellow with a transition to reddish. The central part of the dark shade.
Two-tone
Grasping rudbeckia (Rudbeckia Amplexicaulis)
The standard size of the bush does not exceed 80 cm, the foliage in the form of an oval, slightly elongated, pointed at the top, along the edges is an edge of small teeth. The brownish receptacle is elevated 0.3 cm, the upper petals of the rudbeckia are yellow.
Bound
Rudbeckia Triloba
Annual 0.6-1 m tall. The stems branch at the base, covered with hard hairs. The foliage is oblong or ovoid in a deep green color and 12 cm long. The diameter of the baskets is 3-4 cm, the inner flowers are black and scarlet, the outer ones are orange and yellow, 2 cm long. Flowering does not differ in duration.
Outdoor cultivation of rudbeckia flowers
The seedlingless planting option is suitable only for warm climatic conditions, in Siberia and in the north, seedlings must first be germinated. If the bushes were grown from seeds planted directly in the ground, then practice shows that they will not bloom in the first summer.
Planting seeds in the ground
This option is suitable for all varieties except terry varieties. Landing is carried out on June 14-20 in pre-prepared beds:
- between plants there should be a distance of 15 cm;
- disembarkation is made 1-2 cm deep;
- seeds are covered with a minimum layer of earth;
- beds abundantly watered, tracking the accidental leaching of planting material.
Closer to September, small sockets consisting of foliage will appear at the seeding site. Dense bushes will grow from them next summer, which will begin to bloom earlier than those planted in the spring.
Choosing a place for sowing
Varieties do not require special soil, grow well on clay lands. They do not like drafts and wind, shaded areas. Experienced gardeners advise planting them in the most lit areas with slightly acidic, fertile soil.
Seedlings
Recommended for cold climates or in case of late spring. Practice has shown that violation of the rules of planting and care leads to the appearance of weak sprouts that die when the temperature drops at night and day.
Planting seeds for seedlings
They are planted in special small boxes of 1-2 units. The ground in containers is pre-moistened, plantings are covered with a thin layer of soil. The container is covered with a film, transferred to a room with a temperature of 20-22 ° C. Sprouts expect in 1-2 weeks.
Growing seedlings
Before the first shoots, watering of crops is carried out as necessary, the containers are periodically aired, removing condensate from the film. After the formation of two pairs of leaves, the bushes are planted so that they do not interfere with each other's normal development.
Important! Watering is carried out from the spray gun, water is previously defended. In the description of the causes of the development of fungal infections, experts consider excessive waterlogging to be the main source.
Seedlings hardening
Hardening begins in early May. Boxes are carried out for 3-4 hours on a loggia or a glazed terrace.
Planting seedlings in open ground
Landing work begins with the onset of heat. If at night it drops sharply, then the beds need to be covered with an agrospan, otherwise the young growth may die. Planting is carried out at a distance of 0.3-0.4 m between the bushes. After planting perennial varieties, the surface is covered with compost with a layer of 8 cm.
Caring for Rudbeckia Flowers in the Garden
They do not tolerate waterlogging, easily adapt to drought. If the flowers grow in a sunny place, then caring for them is not difficult.
Watering mode
Bushes are watered in the morning or evening, the frequency of watering depends on the weather. After each irrigation of the earth it needs to be loosened and weed.
How to feed rudbeckia for lush flowering
Fertilizer is introduced before flowering, preference is given to mineral complex additives containing potassium. For perennial species, top dressing is carried out in the spring, it includes the following components:
- potassium sulfate;
- agricola-7;
- nitrophosco.
For 10 liters of water, 1 tbsp is taken. spoon of each ingredient, for each m² of bed is required 3 l of the mixture. The procedure is repeated after 2-3 weeks. Organic flowering from the infusion of overripe grass will help prolong the flowering time. It is poured in the middle of summer, when rudbeckia actively blooms.
Important! Old buds must be removed as they dry. Tall varieties should be tied up, this will help prevent their fracture in windy weather.
Rudbeckia breeding
Annual species are usually propagated by seeds, perennials of rudbeckia are divided by rhizome.
Rudbeckia propagation by dividing the bush
How to plant spring rudbeckia: the procedure is carried out every five years. Old bushes are dug up, divided into several parts. The resulting seedlings are planted in the ground in compliance with the distance.
Seed propagation
Planting material should not be planted deeply, as it may not rise. You need to sow to a depth of 1-2 cm, pour a small layer of earth on top. The first sprouts appear after 7-10 days from the day of sowing.
Collection and storage of rudbeckia seeds
The final ripening of seeds takes place in the fall. Harvesting begins after they dry well on the bushes. The most viable seeds are located in the central part of the flowers, they are collected in rubber gloves. After completing the procedures, the material is scattered on the surface of the newspaper, set aside in a room with good ventilation.
Landing and caring for beginners for many years of rudbeckia is simple. With the right place, it will bloom profusely before the fall days, and some varieties will bloom.
