Very pretty! I have not even gotten the regular Cherry Brandy to the blooming stage although I've started lots of other cultivars of Rudbeckia hirta from seed that bloomed okay.

We've had a lot of cloudy days lately. I'm really wondering if that's why this one hasn't faded like the others. But the color is really striking. I could really enjoy an entire bed of this color even with some slight variations. I hope it holds up.

ramazz, no it wasn't yours but that one is sure pretty, very unusual. It was a photo by the side of a house with two large patches of PS and some other flower. They weren't exactly like my photo either as to double. Kind of a double decker effect except the top part was the same size as the bottom. That's how I remember it anyway, and often my memory plays tricks on me. If I can find that thread again, I'll link to it, too far back now. token, one person's trash is another's treasure. I know photos can only show us so much, but I find yours rather interesting, not that I'd run right out and grow it. Expecting something different may skew your perception of it, but I'd let it grow another year and see what it is like. I think it's kind of pretty actually, certainly different. Nice assortment of flowers and plants in your photo. But if you have your heart set on a nice cherry brandy, I'd hope to get some seeds from posters who have the prettiest ones or just try something else. But before you shovel prune it, maybe somebody on freecycle would want it or gasp, somebody here might want some seeds from it. Or a plant hybridizer. Look at what you've got, something truly unique even though not to your liking. If it were crossed with other ones, it could lead to some stunning new Rudbeckia. A grower might even be interested in it. I don't know if white has even shown up in Rudbeckias before or not, and the potential for crosses, good bad and ugly are endless.

It is interesting on the different variations of the flower across the states... The first bloom was like yours Brandy (by the way Hi girlfriend where have you been) It was a brownish color too... As new blooms formed the true color started to emerge... They have the rud listed as a Biannual... I will try some more.. They are medium flowers in height 18 inches... Now to try to find a flower to grow with it so they dont clash...hahahhah