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Herbaceous Perennial

Rudbeckia occidentalis 'Black Beauty'^PBR

A clump-forming, rhizomatous perennial to 70cm high, with ovate basal leaves, and branching stems with narrow, serrated stem leaves. The flowers are petalless and consist of a large, velvety black cone-shaped flowerhead with golden-yellow pollen forming a ring around it and green brachts at the base. Flowers appear from summer through until autumn

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Ultimate height

0.1–0.5 metres

Time to ultimate height

2–5 years

Ultimate spread

0.1–0.5 metres

Chalk

Clay

Loam

Moisture

Moist but well–drained, Well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun
Partial shade

Aspect

East–facing or South–facing or West–facing

Exposure

Exposed or Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Asteraceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Clump forming
Genus: Rudbeckia may be annuals, biennials or rhizomatous herbaceous perennials, with simple or pinnately divided leaves and large daisy-like flower-heads with yellow or orange rays surrounding a prominent conical disk
Name status: Accepted

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in humus rich, moist but well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade. Able to tolerate drought once established. See rudbeckia cultivation for further advice

Propagation

Propagate by division in spring or autumn

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Cottage and informal garden
Prairie planting
Cut flowers
Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Deadhead regularly. Can be cut back in autumn, though stems and seedheads persist well and can provide structure in winter

Pests

May be susceptible to aphids and slugs

Diseases

May be susceptible to powdery mildews

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