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Great Lakes Gardening

just how much shade can rudbeckia tolerate?

19 years ago

and still perform adequately (give me nice blooms)?

I've got a plant on the NE side of my house against my deck (just planted it last weekend). So it gets sun basically from sunrise (say 7-7:30 to be conservative) to nearly noon right now. No afternoon sun at all.

Do you think this is adequate sun?

Thanks!

Featured Answer

CzechChick

18 years ago

DianeKaryl,
I have some that does well on my north facing wall. I may not get a "Prize Winning" bloom on it, (but it does bloom well for me) that's not why I grow flowers. I grow flowers because I like them and they look pretty, and for that, my rudbeckia does just fine by me.

I live in a condo. I only have a north facing wall, I have shasta daisies, balloon flowers, salvia, columbine, monarda, Sweet William, dianthus and many others that are supposed to be full sun and all of mine grow, bloom and look just fine to me. I no longer look at the recommendations because the real test is how it does FOR ME in MY garden.

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Comments (6)

cookiesdoc
19 years ago
I think it will be okay. I have a bed that curves from NE to NW with three large pines to the South of them and the Rudbeckia on the NE side bloomed fine, BUT they were smaller and bloomed later than the other ones. Good luck!
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pitimpinai
19 years ago
It should be fine where you planted it. Some of mine are in the north side of the building. They get only morning sun in mid summer. They are in shade all afternoon and from late summer, they are practically in full shade. They are doing fine there, just bloomed later than the ones receiving more sun.
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DianeKaryl
19 years ago
I disagree. While the plant may grow up to specs, may flower......it wont give the color or the vigor that a sun-drenched plant does.

Do you have a space in the sun? Put a rudbeckia in that space and compare the one in the shade.

Eastern exposures often give plants that don't need the 6, 7, 8 hours, quite sufficient ...if they are not full sun lovers. Many plants do much better given the lower sun values.....those that could be harmed by the hot sun of western or southern exposures.

It is just that those that do better in full sun, give better color and grow better when given what they deserve.
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Mary4b
18 years ago
My friend has filtered sunlight all day. Her lot is very shady and she has her "sun" garden where it probably doesn't get more than 1-2 hours of full sun...but it gets part sun all day. Her rudbeckia are always gorgeous and thriving. She's shared with me and mine don't do nearly as well...in full sun! I'd say try it. It's an easy plant to get if it doesn't work out. The rabbits ate mine last year.
allisonolassa
7 years ago
I love the last line of this comment!
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