Lesser-Known Rudbeckia

I've done a 180-degree flip when it comes to Rudbeckia. At one time, it was the main feature in my late-summer garden. Then, cheerful though it was, I got tired of it and decided I wanted to favour flowers with cool shades of pink, purple and blue. So I ripped out most of the Rudbeckia and planted things like Veronica and Catmint.

I don't regret giving Catmint or Veronica more play in my garden, but I found myself missing the Rudbeckia. Like Phlox, Sunflowers and Echinacea, it is a quintessential late-summer flower. The bright yellow flowers look great mixed with purple Phlox and pink Echinacea.

With this change of heart, I find myself reconsidering the many different types of Rudbeckia.

Before we take a look at some of the more unusual types of Rudbeckia, I think it's worth a quick look at the tried and true. One of the most popular is Rudbeckia fulgida 'Goldstrum'.

Rudbeckia fulgida 'Goldstrum' has golden-yellow flowers with a black centre. It will easily grow in average garden soil. It likes sun but appreciates a little light afternoon shade. Removing spent flowers will prolong the display of blooms into the autumn. This perennial has a slow spreading habit but is easy to remove where unwanted. Height: 60-75 cm ( 23-29 inches), Spread: 45-60 cm (18-23 inches). USDA zones: 3-9.

There is also a more compact version available:

Rudebckia fulgida 'Little Goldstar' was bred to be an improvement on 'Goldstrum'. It blooms profusely on a smaller plant that stands just 14-16 inches tall. It's an easy-to-grow perennial that will prosper in average garden soil with normal moisture conditions. Height: 35-40 cm (14-16 inches), Spread: 35-40 cm (14-16 inches). USDA zones: 4-9.

While this is a cute little Rudbeckia, in my opinion, it does not have quite the same bright punch as 'Goldstrum'. The yellow petals of 'Little Goldstar' are smaller and the dark centre is more dominant.



And finally, there is Rudbeckia hirta. These are short-lived perennials that bloom in the first year from seed that was sown in the early spring. Often you'll see them sold as annuals to brighten up fall container plantings. Rudbeckia hirta is easily grown in average garden soil. They like full sun and moist, free-draining soil. 

Now let's look at a few of the more unusual Rubdeckia starting with a couple of tall perennials:

Rudbeckia pinnata growing in the Lucy Maud Montgomery Memorial Garden.

Drooping Coneflower or Grey-headed Coneflower, Rudbeckia pinnata has yellow petals that hang down and an erect brown cone. This plant has long flower stems and hairy, divided basal leaves. It likes rich, moist, but well-drained soil. Full sun. Height: 2-5 ft (50-150 cm), Spread: 2ft (45 cm). USDA zones: 3-10.

Rudbeckia Maxima

Rudbeckia Maxima is a native of the Southern U.S. It has really interesting grey-blue foliage and tall brown-eyed daisies that don't require staking. This perennial grows in average garden soil in full sun. It too prefers soil conditions to be on the moist side. Height is a whopping 150-240 cm (59-94 inches), Spread: 60-90 cm (23-35 inches). USDA Zones: 4-9.

Rudbeckia subtomentosa 'Little Henry'

The next two Rudbeckia I want to show you are shorter but are still quite tall and upright.

Rudbeckia fulgida 'Goldstrum'

So often you see closeups of flowers when a plant is profiled, but I really think it is important to consider the size and shape of a plant when you're doing your planning. 

Rudbeckia fulgida 'Goldstrum' is a round, bushy plant. In contrast Rudbeckia subomentosa 'Henry Eilers'  and Rudbeckia subtomentosa 'Little Henry' are upright and narrow.

Rudbeckia subomentosa 'Henry Eilers'. Lucy Maud Montgomery Memorial Garden

Rudbeckia subtomentosa 'Henry Eilers' has flowers with narrow yellow petals with dark brown centres. The foliage apparently has a light vanilla scent. Full sun with a bit of light afternoon shade. Height: 120-180 cm (47-70 inches) Spread: 60-90 cm (23-35 inches) USDA Zones: 4-9.

Rudbeckia subtomentosa 'Little Henry' is very similar to 'Henry Eilers', but is shorter.

Rudbeckia subtomentosa 'Little Henry'

Rudbeckia subtomentosa 'Little Henry' is a tall, upright plant with quilled yellow flowers with brown centres. 'Little Henry' blooms from midsummer into fall and is attractive to butterflies. It will grow in a range of soils types and tolerates moist to fairly dry growing conditions. Full sun or light shade. Height: 80-90 cm (30-35 inches) Spread: 55-60 cm (20-23 inches) USDA Zones: 4-9.

This next Rudbeckia has become my new favourite. Not everyone shares my good opinion–many would describe Rudbeckia triloba as a weedy native plant. It's a short-lived perennial (annual in my garden) that you might see growing wild along roadsides, in damp woods and along streams. 

What I think is charming about this Brown-eyed Susan are the flowers. The yellow petals are shorter and less pointy than those of Rudbeckia 'Goldstrum'. This makes for a smaller, rounder flower and more dainty bloom.

This is just one single plant!

Rudbeckia triloba is a short-lived perennial that is native to much of Eastern North America. It tolerates light shade and is easily grown in average, moist, well-drained soil. Deadhead the flowers to encourage new flowers and to prevent unwanted seedlings. Attractive to butterflies. Full morning sun with some light afternoon shade is ideal. Height: 75-100 cm (29-39 inches), Spread: 60-75 cm (23-29 inches). USDA zones: 4-8.

My front garden.

Looking along the front of the garden you can see hints of the yellow Rudbeckia flowers. 

Monarda in the foreground.

Rudbeckia triloba is a tall plant with an umbrella shape. One of the unexpected things I like about this Rudbeckia is the contrast of its green foliage with the dark, reddish-brown stems. 

Originally I had it planted in the back garden, but last fall I spread some seeds in the front yard as well. It now adds a little sparkle of yellow in among the pink and purple Phlox. 

Grange Hollow Nursery 

One of the best ways to grow tall Rudbeckia triloba is amongst other plants it can lean on. In this example, it was grown alongside Mountain Fleeceflower, Persicaria.

My backyard garden.

This next Rudbeckia becomes a bit of a tangled mess, but the mix of colors is very striking. It's another type of Rudbeckia triloba and has a similar umbrella of flowers.

Rudbeckia triloba 'Prairie Glow' has bi-color blooms. It is a short-lived perennial with a tendency to liberally reseed itself. It is easy to grow in average or moist, well-drained soil. It's tall, and a bit floppy, so it is good to give it some support (or grow it next to a plant it can lean on). Full sun. Height: 90-120 cm ( 36-48 inches), Spread: 60-90 cm (24-36 inches) . USDA Zones 3-10.

Rudbeckia triloba 'Prairie Glow' offers a nice contrast between its bright green leaves and its deep purple stems. This too is a short-lived perennial that reseeds itself. To contain the spread of seedlings, I chop off the flowers as soon as they have set seed. Then I sprinkle the seeds over the surface of the ground in the fall. 

If you like order and hate unwanted seedlings, this might not be the plant for you.

Companion Plants

Rudbeckia with Echinacea and Russian Sage in the Lucy Maud Montgomery Memorial Garden.

Rudbeckia looks great with a whole range of late-summer perennials including Phlox, Echinacea, Russian Sage, Helenium and ornamental grasses. 

 Rudbeckia with ornamental grasses in the Lucy Maud Montgomery Memorial Garden. 

 Rudbeckia with Helenium (foreground orange), Russian Sage and Pink Phlox.

Public park in Brampton.

Rudbeckia with Phlox and Daylilies

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The Case for and against Japanese Anemones

Though they are known as "Japanese" Anemones, this common name is actually a bit of a misnomer.

Sometime in the distant past, anemones were brought from their native China to Japan, where they naturalized in the wild. There the fall-blooming plants were discovered by European plant collectors and were mistakenly identified as a Japanese native.

Japanese Anemones in a private garden.

Windflower is another common name for Japanese Anemones and speaks to the delicate flowers that float and dance in the breeze on tall, slender stems. The flowers are two to three inches in size and come in single, semi-double and double forms. Colors range from pure white to pink, lavender and purple.

The plants themselves are long-lived and relatively low maintenance. Division is rarely needed.

They range in height from 2'-4' (60 cm -120 cm).

Anemone x hybrida 'Whirlwind'

Anemone x hybrida 'Whirlwind' at the Toronto Botanical Garden.

One of the great assets of these plants is their bloom time. They begin to flower in mid-to-late August and continue to do so until the first frosts. As you can see in the picture above, the leaves on the trees have all turned color and the Japanese Anemones are still going strong.

Japanese Anemones at the Toronto Botanical Garden.

The downside is that Japanese Anemones are perennials that have a spreading habit. Many would even deem them to be invasive. It may take a year or two for a Japanese Anemone to get established. Given favourable conditions, it will then begin to spread via creeping rhizomes. Eventually, it will naturalize to form a large colony. How fast they spread is somewhat determined by the soil. In heavier, drier soil they will spread more slowly.

The roots of a Japanese Anemone are fairly shallow and fibrous, so it is possible to remove them. Root segments can re-sprout, so it is important to get as much of the roots as possible.

Where you plant them is key to perennials like this. Don't plant them in amongst other less vigorous plants and expect them to be good neighbours.  I'd also be cautious about planting them in an open area where it would be difficult to contain them.

Last weekend I visited a garden where she had her anemones planted in a raised island bed. It struck me as a perfect spot for them. There was only so far they could go.

Anemone x hybrida 'Whirlwind'

How to Grow Japanese Anemones

It is very tempting to buy Japanese Anemones now when you can see the flower in bloom, but it is much better to plant them in the spring when they have more time to get established before winter (particularly in more northern zones).

Plant tags will often describe light requirements for fall-blooming anemones as "full sun" or "part shade". This shorthand really doesn't provide enough information. Light to medium shade that includes a bit of early morning sun is best. If the soil is moist however, Japanese Anemones will tolerate more sun (the exception would be in warmer zones, where protection from the hot afternoon sun is essential). Too much shade will result in leggy plants that flop.  

Japanese Anemones like humus-rich soil that is evenly moist, but well-drained (These aren't bog plants. They prefer regular water that drains away).

Mulch a Japanese Anemone in that first year.  It will help keep the soil moist.

In zones 5 and lower, anemones are best planted in a sheltered location near a building or against a fence. It is also recommended to mulch a Japanese Anemone each fall in more northern area to protect the plant through the winter.

I have read differing views on staking these tall plants. Part of their charm is those tall swaying flower stems. You can reduce the plant's height by cutting it back in the first part of June. Flopping stems can also be a sign of too little light.

Fertilize them in spring. Division is also best done in the spring.

Pests

Japanese beetles and black blister beetles can defoliate an entire plant. The plant may bounce back, but it will be unlikely to flower that season.

Japanese Anemones are deer and rabbit resistant.

Japanese Anemone, Anemone x hybrid 'Party Dress' 

A Few of the Cultivars Available

Anemone tomentosa is native to northern China is the hardiest and most vigorous (i.e. it spreads aggressively) of the fall flowering anemones.

Most modern cultivars are attributed to Anemone hupehensis and Anemone x hybrida.

Anemone hupehensis is native to central and southwestern China where it can be found on grassy slopes and on stream banks. Modern cultivars related to species forms of Anemone hupehensis offer semi-double flowers.

Anemone x hybrida are generally referred to as Japanese hybrids and are a cross between a Himalayan species (A. vitifolia) and Anemone hupehensis.

Anemone tomentosa 'Robustissima' has large, pink flowers on tall branching stems that become fluffy seed heads in the late fall. This is one of the hardiest and most vigorous cultivars. It has an aggressive, spreading habit that many would deem invasive. Like all anemones, it likes moist, rich soil. Part shade. Height: 90-120 cm (35-47 inches), Spread: 60-90 cm (23-35 inches). USDA zones: 3-9.

Anemone hupehensis 'Pretty Lady Emily' has large double flowers that are light pink on a shorter plant.  Like all anemones, it likes moist, rich soil. Part shade. Height: 30-40 cm (12-16 inches), Spread: 50-60 cm (20-23 inches). USDA zones: 5-9.

Anemone hupehensis japonica 'Pamina' has semi-double flowers that are dark pink. Like all anemones, it likes moist, rich soil. Part shade. Height: 80-85 cm (31-33 inches), Spread: 60-90 cm (23-35 inches). USDA zones: 5-9.

Anemone x hybrida 'Party Dress' has a green eye at the centre of large semi-double flowers that are pink. Like all anemones, it likes moist, rich soil. Part shade. Height: 80-90 cm (31-35 inches), Spread: 60-90 cm (23-35 inches). USDA zones: 5-9.

Anemone x hybrida 'Queen Charlotte' has semi-double flowers that are pink. Like all anemones, it likes moist, rich soil. Part shade. Height: 80-90 cm (31-35 inches), Spread: 60-90 cm (23-35 inches). USDA zones: 5-9.

Anemone x hybrida 'Honorine Jobert' is an heirloom variety that plant breeder M. Jobert named for his daughter in France in1858. It has a single white flower with a flush of pink on the outside.  Like all anemones, it likes moist, rich soil. Part shade. Height: 90-120 cm (35-47 inches), Spread: 60-90 cm (23-35 inches). USDA zones: 5-9.

Anemone x hybrida 'Whirwind' is another heirloom cultivar. It has semi-double white flowers on tall stems. Like all anemones, it likes moist, rich soil. Part shade. Height: 90-120 cm (35-47 inches), Spread: 60-90 cm (23-35 inches). USDA zones: 5-9.

Just when summer-flowering plants are finishing, Japanese Anemones step in to fill the void. They usher in the change of seasons with a beautiful profusion of flowers. If you can find a good place for them, they have lots to offer.

Update: Proven Winner's has introduced a new cultivar that is purported to be less aggressive. 

Fall in Love™ Sweetly Japanese Anemone hybrid has semi-double, rose-pink flowers. For most of the summer, the foliage is a large mound of dark green leaves. In late summer/fall, flowering stems make the plant's growth more upright. Unlike most Japanese Anemones, this new introduction spreads slowly through rhizomes. Average, moist soil will keep this plant happy. Mulch heavily in the fall for the first two seasons to prevent frost heaving. Part-sun to full sun. Resists deer and rabbits. Height: 24 - 30 inches (60 -76 cm), Spread: 20 - 22 inches (50-55 cm). USDA zones: 4-8.

Hardy Hibiscus

Hibiscus moscheutos takes its own sweet time emerging from the ground in the spring, but when its enormous, satiny blooms finally open in late summer, it puts on quite the show. In the production of these impressive blooms, I have no doubt that summer is complicit. There is no way summer is going to fade demurely into fall. She is determined to go out with a flourish.

Hibiscus moscheutos has a bevvy common names; Rose Mallows, Swamp Mallow, Dinner-plate Hibiscus and Hardy Hibiscus. Though they look quite tropical, the species forms of Hibiscus moscheutos are a cold-hardy woodland plant native to U.S. and Canada. Here in Ontario, Hibiscus moscheutos are considered to be a native plant at risk, but a few colonies with pale pink flowers can still be found growing in the shoreline marshes of the Carolinian and Great Lakes/St. Lawrence River forest regions.

Like other herbaceous perennials, Hibiscus moscheutos has foliage and woody stems that die back to the ground in winter. They are tall, vase-shaped plants that reach an average of two to six feet in height and approximately three feet in width. Though these plants will perform best in areas with long, hot summers, they are hardy to zones 4 or 5.

The blooms of Hibiscus moscheutos consist of five flat overlapping petals and can reach up to 10-12 inches across. As well as bi-colored flowers, they come in solid shades of lavender, rose, peach, red and white.

Each individual flower opens for just one or two days and fades as soon as it is pollinated. While the flowers are short-lived, a single plant can be covered in flower buds ensuring a succession of blooms from mid-summer right up until the first frosts of fall.

A look at the foliage above and below.

Many of the cultivars have matt, medium-green foliage, but there are a few varieties have bronze or eggplant colored foliage. As Hibiscus moscheutos bloom late in the gardening season, cultivars that have this dark attractive foliage come with a definite bonus.

Hibiscus moscheutos do have one drawback– like Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus) they can self-sow and become a bit weedy. And the seedlings may not be the same color as the parent. Deadheading spent flowers is one way to limit this problem.

How to Plant

Nurseries tend to showcase hardy Hibiscus in late summer when they are in full flower, but planting them that late in the season doesn't really give Hibiscus moscheutos enough time to get properly established before winter. It is much better to take a few notes now and hold off making your purchase until next spring.

Hibiscus moscheutos do best in moist, rich organic soil. They will, however, tolerate average garden soil provided that the soil is not allowed to dry out completely. Plant them in full sun in an area that has good air circulation, but is protected from the wind.

When you do your planting, it's a good idea to add some organic material, such as compost, to your soil. A top-dressing of bark mulch will help preserve soil moisture and keep your new plant happy. Even so, deep and consistent watering is especially important during that first season.

Ongoing Care

Hibiscus moscheutos are slow to emerge in the spring, and depending on your garden's zone, may not appear until sometime in June. A layer of compost applied each spring will help encourage that fresh new growth.

Spent flowers can look a bit bedraggled, so deadhead them to keep your hibiscus looking tidy.

Every fall cut back the stems to three or four inches above the ground. In northern garden zones, it's a good idea to protect the crown of the plant with some bark or straw mulch.

Pests and Problems

• Japanese Beetles can be an annoying problem, and if left unchecked, can cause extensive damage to the foliage and flowers. The easiest solution is to knock any Japanese Beetles you find into a large jar or bucket filled with soapy water.

• Sawflies, whiteflies and aphids can also be occasional pests.

• Leaf scorch can occur if the soil is allowed to dry out completely. 

• Hibiscus moscheutos also has some susceptibility to leaf blight, rust and canker.

A few of the Cultivars Available

White Hibiscus x 'Blue River II' has large white flowers and green foliage. Full sun. Height: 120-150 cm (47-59 inches), Spread: 75-90 cm (29-35 inches). USDA zones: 4-9.

Hibiscus 'Plum Crazy' has rose-purple flowers with a dark purple eye. The foliage also has a hint of purple. Full sun. Height: 90-105 cm (35-41 inches), Spread: 75-90 cm (29-35 inches). USDA zones: 4-9.

Hibiscus 'Kopper King' has white flowers with a red eye. The foliage is a deep copper color. Mulch in late fall in zones 4 and 5 for better winter hardiness. Full sun. Height: 90-105 cm (35-41 inches), Spread: 75-90 cm (29-35 inches). USDA zones: 4-9.

Hibiscus 'Kopper King' 

Hibiscus 'Sweet Caroline' has bright pink flowers with darker pink veining and a dark red eye. Full sun. Height: 90-120 cm (36-48 inches), Spread: 75-90 cm (29-35 inches). USDA zones: 5-9.

Dwarf Hibiscus 'Luna Red' is a compact variety that has bright green foliage and large red flowers. Plant it in rich, moist garden soil. Mulch in late fall in zones 4 and 5 for better winter hardiness. Full sun.  Height: 60-90 cm (23-35 inches), Spread: 45-60 cm (18-23 inches). USDA zones: 5-9.

Dwarf Hibiscus 'Luna Rose' is similar to 'Luna Red, but has pink flowers.

Dwarf Hibiscus 'Luna White' is yet another compact variety that has white flowers with a large red eye.

Hibiscus 'Kopper King' at the Toronto Botanical Gardens.

Hibiscus 'Kopper King' at the Lucy Maud Montgomery Garden in Norval, Ontario.

There is no denying that these are magnificent flowers make a dramatic end to the summer season.

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