Looking to grow some of your own rudbeckias or maybe purchase one or two plants and wondering if this is a perennial or annual plant? Well wonder no longer, I have the answer for you down below.
Is Rudbeckia A Perennial?
There are both annual and perennial rudbeckia. The classic yellow-coloured rudbeckia is often a perennial, but different coloured rudbeckia are often annuals.
As a general rule of thumb, for us here in the UK anyway, the traditional yellow and black Rudbeckia tend to be perennials whereas the different coloured Rudbeckia like oranges and purples tend to be annuals.
This isn’t a set rule and I am sure there are exceptions to it like most things gardening, but for the most part, it does hold true.
Most rudbeckias are herbaceous perennials, which means they will die back over winter before regrowing the following spring. There is nothing of the plant left over winter and if you didn’t know better you would think it had died off, but worry not, it will be back next year.
Hardy or Not Hardy?
There is also the question of whether the rudbeckia variety you are growing is hardy or not. There are some rudbeckia that are fully hardy and can survive a UK winter, but there are others that are not even half-hardy and stand no chance outside.
The non-hardy varieties tend to be grown as annuals in the UK even though they may technically be perennial plants. This is simply because they are easy to grow from seed but tough to keep alive over winter.
Because of this it just makes more sense to grow fresh plants from seed every year rather than trying to keep a plant alive over winter.
There are a lot of Rudbeckia that are fully hardy and popular varieties such as Rudbeckia fulgida ‘Goldsturm’ are fully hardy. Just make sure you check either the label or description before buying!
More On Rudbeckia
Rudbeckia is a member of the Asteraceae family, which is a huge family of plants by the way, along with asters, calendula and daisies.
Rudbeckia is a very popular species of plant, they look gorgeous and are easy to grow, two factors that will always lead to popularity.
Most Rudbeckia are hardy perennials when grown in the UK but there are a couple of types that are only grown as annuals due to our colder winters.
In general, it is the yellow Rudbeckia that are perennial with most other colourways being annual plants.
What Conditions Do Rudbeckia Like?
Rudbeckia like a sunny spot and well-draining soil. They don’t like their roots drying out though so need to be watered during dry spells. They really don’t like their roots being in standing water either though which is why well-draining soil is a must.
Although they like a sunny spot they can also survive in partial shade but with reduced flowering.
What Rudbeckia Should I Grow?
Looking to find the perfect Rudbeckia for your garden? Here are some of my favourite varieties.
Goldsturm
Winner of the RHS Award of Garden Merit this is what you would call a classic Rudbeckia. Long yellow petals lead to a dark black centre on daisy-like flowers.
A fan favourite for bees, butterflies and other pollinators, Goldsturm will be a hub of activity in no time at all.
Sunbeckia
The Rudbeckia Sunbeckia Series was bred for exceptionally large, long-lasting flowers in unique colours. From early summer all the way into autumn, Rudbeckia ‘Sunbeckia Mia’ produces a stunning display of abundant, bi-coloured flowers that are yellow on the outside and deep red on the inside.
Find it at Suttons
All Sorts Mixed
Mixed packs of Rudbeckia seeds or plants are available from most online seed retailers. These mixed rudbeckias look amazing when grown in pots or packed into a border.
Related Posts
Want to learn more about Rudbeckia? Here are some more posts with lots of information on these cheery plants.