Rudbeckia hirta 'Sputnik'
black-eyed Susan 'Sputnik'
'Sputnik' is a short-lived perennial, usually grown as an annual, to 45cm in height with bristly stems and lance-shaped leaves. The classic daisy flowerheads have bicoloured ray florets, each with a brown base and middle changing to yellow at their tips, clustered around a dark-brown cone of disc florets. Flowerheads appear from mid to late summer
Size
Ultimate height
0.5–1 metresTime to ultimate height
1–2 yearsUltimate spread
0.1–0.5 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Moist but well–drainedpH
Acid, Alkaline, NeutralColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Brown Yellow | Green | ||
| Autumn | ||||
| Winter |
Position
- Full sun
- Partial shade
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered Hardiness
H3Botanical details
- Family
- Asteraceae
- Native to the UK
- No
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Habit
- Columnar upright
- Genus
Rudbeckia may be annuals, biennials or rhizomatous herbaceous perennials, with simple or pinnately divided leaves and large daisy-like flower-heads with yellow or orange rays surrounding a prominent conical disk
- Name status
Unresolved
How to grow
Cultivation
Best grown as a half-hardy annual. Grows well in moderately fertile, preferably heavy but well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade
Propagation
Propagate by seed sown with gentle heat in spring
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- Cottage and informal garden
- Wildflower meadow
- Cut flowers
- Flower borders and beds
Pruning
Deadhead spent flowers
Pests
Generally pest-free
Diseases
May be susceptible to grey moulds if air circulation is poor
Get involved
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