Rudbeckia hirta Prairie Sun

Rudbeckia hirta 'Prairie Sun'

€4,90
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Rudbeckia hirta Prairie Sun

Rudbeckia hirta 'Prairie Sun'

€4,90
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Rudbeckia 'Prairie Sun' produces hundreds of daisy-like flowers in a single season, ranging from golden yellow to yellow-orange, with bright yellow edges, which open in simple collars around a green center.
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The leaves are dual colored - starting with a dark peach at the center and shading out into a butter yellow at the edge.

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The leaves are oval and pointed, slightly serrated along the edges, and appear in basal tufts.

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The stem leaves are smaller and sessile (without petioles), with a rounded, cordate base; their color is a bright, light green.

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The flowers are quite large, attracting both butterflies and passerbys to your garden.

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👨‍🌾 GARDENING TIPS👨‍🌾:

\n \nLearn more about gardening with the Rudbeckia family: \n \nDiscover other varieties of Rudbeckia: The Lesser Known Varieties \n \n
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The Tales & The Botany:

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\nAll Rudbeckia species are dye plants (especially R. hirta and R. laciniata) due to the presence of flavonols in their tissues. The inflorescences used alone give orange-yellow colors, while the entire plant provides yellow-green shades. \n \nIt is a cultivar derived from Rudbeckia hirta, a short-lived perennial native to the United States. \n \nIn the wild in the US, this plant grows in prairies, pastures, and cultivated fields, where it is considered a weed. \n \nThe genus name honors Olof Rudbeck (1630-1702) Swedish botanist and founder of the Uppsala Botanic Garden in Sweden where Carl Linnaeus was once a professor of botany. \n \nThe species name of hirta means "hairy", a reference to the short bristles that cover the leaves and stems. \n \n🏆 ‘Prairie Sun’ is an All-America Selection winner in 2003 and a Gold Medal winner at the 2003 Fleuroselect trials in England. \n \n🎨 All Rudbeckia species are dye plants (especially R. hirta and R. laciniata) due to the presence of flavonols in their tissues. The inflorescences alone produce yellow-orange colors, while the entire plant gives yellow-green hues. \n \n
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🌸 Floral Morphology

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The plant itself is a herbaceous perennial, though in many climates it behaves like a short-lived perennial or even an annual.

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Its stems are hairy and upright, supporting the flower heads in a way that maximizes visibility to pollinators, while its rough, lance-shaped leaves are adapted to conserve moisture and deter herbivory.

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The floral collar is divided into two concentric zones of different colors, a bright yellow border surrounding a central orange-yellow zone.

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Interestingly, the hairs on the leaves and stems can also reflect light, slightly reducing leaf temperature and helping the plant survive in open, sunny prairies.

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🌱 Reproductive Biology

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From a reproductive standpoint, Rudbeckia hirta is prolific. The plant produces small, dry fruits called achenes, which often self-seed around the parent plant.

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This self-seeding habit, combined with its long blooming period from mid-summer to early fall, makes 'Prairie Sun' particularly resilient in gardens and wildflower plantings.

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Its bright yellow flowers are highly attractive to bees, butterflies, and even some birds, highlighting its ecological role beyond simple ornamentation.

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🌍 Ecology & Adaptations

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Botanically, the cultivar 'Prairie Sun' has been selected for its compact stature and consistently vibrant coloration, making it especially suitable for garden borders, prairie-style meadows, and pollinator-friendly landscapes.

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Unlike some taller Rudbeckia varieties that can flop over, 'Prairie Sun' maintains a tidy, upright habit that is both aesthetically pleasing and practical for small garden spaces.

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Its genetic background reflects a balance between wild prairie hardiness and ornamental refinement, giving it both durability and visual appeal.

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Other Names:

\nBlack eyed Susan \n \n
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Origin:

\nNorth America
Flowering July, August, September, October
Exposure Full Sun
Frost Tolerance -25°C to -30°C
Soil Cool, Sandy

Gardening Tips:

The Botany:

The Myths:

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