My love of rudbeckias has turned into a bit of an obsession. They are, after all, a pretty easy family to fall in love with. 

Some of the reasons I love them:

The cut stems are major contributors to my flower farming business and a key ingredient that makes my farm attractive to so many native bees.

Bonus: they are winter hardy to zone 5 which means they can be fall planted for earlier blooms in zones 5,6,7,8,9 for taller stems, and more abundance. Early spring plantings can extend the season but won’t deliver as tall stems or abundance in my experience.

Find all my favorite rudbeckia seeds here: Indian Summer. Prairie Sun, Goldilocks, and Double Daisy. 

Honorable mentions but not in the R. Hirta family: R. triloba and R. maxima

I love what this family offers as cut flowers and beneficial creatures. The fourth section in my book Vegetables Love Flowers is titled "Heros of the Garden" and features the image I love of a goldfinch sitting on my rudbeckia-- iconic!

Enjoy!

Hosted by Lisa Ziegler

The Gardener’s Workshop and Flower Farming School Online and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online.  Award-winning Author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers. Watch Lisa’s Story and view her blog Field & Garden. Connect with Lisa on Facebook and Instagram!