I feel like the only person in the world who CAN'T grow Goldsturm Rudbeckia. Last year we put in a bunch of perennials, and these 3 plants were the ONLY ones that did not make it the summer. They wilted flat to the ground in the heat, I couldn't water it enough. They would perk right up after a watering, but even once a day wasn't doing it. They looked absolutely terrible. They never flowered. I managed to save one and get it to look healthy when I moved it to a container, but then the #@%$# condo landscapers came into our yard(we live in a condo townhouse complex) with their leafblowers and broke it(that is why there is a lock on our gate, because that is never happening again). I get so upset when I read how fool proof it is, when they were just disasters in my garden. I also got these plants from a very reputable nursery, where we got all our other plants, and spent $15 each..so that was a bit of an ouch to lose them all. The funny thing is here I was worried about the brand new David Austin rose I had put in, and it did wonderfully, bloomed 3 times, despite the lack of rain and heat of last summer. So I don't know if it was me, the plants, or just bad luck!

Thanks for the suggestion of Herbstonne. I can't be sure because when I google that I don't seem to be able to find a good photo of the foliage. Here's some photos of my foliage as of this morning: close up Thanks!

I live in a similar neighborhood to yours. Full of manicured lawns--all around an acre or more, with pools on most lots. Almost everyone has lawn service. My yard is a Monarch Waystation, where Monarchs are welcome, and visit spring and fall. I have gardens everywhere, some rather messy as I hurt my back this spring. I have the "butterfly buffet on the super highway" as Dr. John Nelson, our local Lep authority told me. In the 9 years we have been here, I have documented 84 species of butterflies out of 117 for the area. Several are county records for butterflies that come to the gardens, but have not been seen in other areas of our county. What is the area like outside the neighborhood? If you have deer, I wonder if there are woods and fields around. This makes a difference. Trees are one of the most important sources for wildlife including butterflies. You have a nice selection of trees. Angie made some great recommendations for plants to add. Susan, another regular on here, lives on a city lot and draws in lots of butterflies with the habitat she has created. It takes time, and some years aren't as good as others. But hang in there, you are doing the right thing. I'd recommend planting parsley and dill and an herb garden. The butterflies love the herbs. Host plants are so important to the butterflies that they will seek them out, so make sure you include lots and lots of host plants. You have some great host plants in the trees on your lot. Become the "butterfly buffet" on the super highway. I think of the super highway as a barren place where there's lots of travel, but no one stops unless a restaurant/buffet has a reputation for being so good, everyone stops. And, they keep coming back for more! Sandy

I got the seeds from trade. Someone suggested I check Rudbeckia missouriensis. I think that could be it or an offspring of a missouriensis and an hirta. Thanks for responding.