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Did I get some weird version of black eye susan

12 years ago

I purchased some black eye susan a few years ago in full sun. The plant comes back every year, but never seem to grow beyond 6 inches. Perhaps there is an issue with the soil, but the other plants grows well. This makes me wonder if I just purchased some weird dwarf version of the plant.

Paul

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Comments (3)

sandyslopes z5 n. UT
12 years ago
There is a dwarf version called Rudbeckia hirta 'Toto'. Maybe that's what you have. I planted some, but mine didn't come back after winter.
diggerdee zone 6 CT
12 years ago
As far as I know, Toto is an annual, so most likely that is not what you have. But other than that, I can't be of much help. I'm supposing you don't have the tag any longer?

I did a quick google search on dwarf perennial rudbeckias and did not get many hits. Even the ones that came up said they grew about 14 inches, so that leaves out your plant! (By the way, I did see a perennial Toto Rustic, so I guess there is a perennial version of Toto - but taller than yours anyway!)

Do yours bloom, and how big are the flowers, and what color?

Dee
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My coneflowers have always been extremely easy and hardy, so I have no doubt yours will come back fine, unless you have one of the new unusual varieties -- I've seen others write that some of them are not as hardy as they had wanted. As for the black-eyed susans, I've grown the common annual kind for years. They are good at dropping seed and there are always new ones growing the next year. Sometimes, it seems that they are perennial and I get new growth from the same plant in the spring, but I'm not sure if that's the case or if it was just a seed growing right on top of the old roots. On the other hand, if you bought the Rudbeckia fulgida kind, those are perennial, and they should come back just fine. I think the main difference between the fulgidas and the regular Rudbeckias is that fulgida has very large leaves at the base of the plant and has more orange-ish flowers.
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I haven't tried any of the cultivars or hybrids just the common species R. hirta. Those are usually about 100% germination when I've sown them. I really don't need to because they do a pretty good job self-sowing on their own in the prairie bed, but I have done it (2 years running to make it easier for placement in the regular flower beds). For those not getting germination. Are you winter or spring sowing them? Rudbeckia should germinate it's best after a period of cold stratification...especially if they are not sown as soon s harvested; also do not cover seed. I've never wintersown them later than Dec. 25th from saved seed and are one of the first to germinate....this year it was 3/15. My very first ones were sown around Thanksgiving by broadcasting into the newly prepared prairie bed in 2003 and these I've been saving seed from every since for trades. Your welcome to some this fall if you don't mind non-fancy but cheery yellow ones :D
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Yes, they are S-L-O-W to germinate directly in the ground. If you sow seeds in the garden, wait until the night temps are stable at 50 degrees or more and days temps are as Herblady49 stated. That is why I said mine were slow to get started - I grew them from seeds! Of course if you buy the plants, well that's a horse of a different color. They are definitely a "warm season" plant. They did not reseed for me. If they made seeds, I didn't find any. None came up the next year. For me, that was a god send. I love MGs but they grow too da*ned well here and take over. They even climbed up into my weeping willow tree. It was pretty, but the blueberry plants underneath were bombarded with the seeds in late summer and what a pain that was...and still is. Zillions of seeds coming up in that fertile, moist soil. Aaah! Here is a link to my Sunflower Morning glory photo site: Here is a link that might be useful: Annie's Sunflowers and Morning Glories of Past Summers
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There's a huge difference between Rudbeckia hirta and Rudbeckia goldstrum - seems I can never find the goldstrum... seeds, yes, but seedlings... no. Goldstrum has the smooth leaves and blooms later in the summer and is perennial. Hirta has fuzzy leaves and is really more of a wildflower - and an annual. It's foliage gets really ratty looking (IMO) and it's just a weaker plant. I'm in Coppell and would LOVE some goldstrum transplants. I just did not get seed out early enough this year. I guess I could throw a little out and hope...
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denninmi
12 years ago
All gloriosa daisies are perennial, albeit somewhat short-lived ones. The varieties like 'Toto' that they promote as "annual" are advertised as such because they bloom rapidly from seed and can be grown as annuals. But, they overwinter as well as any other varieties if your climate is conducive.

I would say, yes, the OP probably got one of the dwarf bedding types.

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