Gloriosa Daisies
I love these gloriosa daisies (rudbeckia hirta). They have been blooming since late spring, and should continue blooming through the fall. They are short lived perennials here in Central Texas, and annuals in colder climates. Unlike some of the other more common rudbeckias, these are shorter and more upright so they don’t require any sort of staking or support. The blooms are also much bigger, 5-9″, than the common black eyed susan, and the colors are stunning. All feature a maroon to burgundy center, but the petal colors vary widely. Some are sunny yellow, others are rich golden orange, still others are mahogany red. The blooms are extremely long lived with long strong stems making excellent cut flowers which last as long as 7-14 days in a vase.
They are easy to grow, and are heat and drought tolerant once established. They should not be placed too close together, as they need good air circulation to ensure resistance to fungal problems in hot and humid conditions. They need full sun for best results, and aren’t too fussy about soil types.
2 Comments To "Gloriosa Daisies"
#1 Comment By Annie in Austin On July 24, 2007 @ 9:48 am
Hi Carol – the Gloriosas look so summery – I used to love the one called ‘Irish Eyes’ with a green center. They look good in your Hill Country landscape, but might have bad ‘legs’ this summer in my urban garden, where the ground is saturated and the sun is hiding.
Your reminder of their value as cut flowers makes me think I should grow them again.
Annie at the Transplantable Rose
#2 Comment By carol On July 26, 2007 @ 8:07 am
Hi Annie. I am glad that I have raised beds this year. I definitely plan to try some other varieties of this plant.