Rudbeckia Blackeyed Susan Goldsturm
Rudbeckia Blackeyed Susan Goldsturm
Location on Farm:
🌱 Planting Installation
'Goldsturm' Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia fulgida var. sullivantii 'Goldsturm') is an iconic, award-winning herbaceous perennial native to North America, celebrated as a cornerstone of perennial borders and native meadow gardens. Growing in sturdy, clump-forming mounds two to three feet tall and up to two feet wide, it features coarse, dark green, lance-shaped leaves with a rough, slightly hairy texture. From mid-summer through early autumn, it produces an abundant display of three- to four-inch daisy-like blossoms with golden-yellow petals radiating from raised, chocolate-brown to black central cones.
Widely regarded as one of the most reliable workhorse perennials available, 'Goldsturm' excels in sunny borders, mass plantings, and prairie-style gardens. Hardy in USDA Zones 3a through 9b, it thrives in full sun and adapts easily to various soil types, including moist clay and lean soils, provided drainage is reasonable. Once established, it demonstrates notable heat and drought tolerance. Its nectar-rich flowers attract bees, butterflies, and beneficial pollinators throughout the summer, while leaving the spent central seed cones intact into winter provides a valuable food source for hungry songbirds like goldfinches.
| Scientific Name | Rudbeckia fulgida var. sullivantii 'Goldsturm' ('Goldsturm' Black-Eyed Susan / Orange Coneflower) |
| Foliage: Deciduous |
Clump-forming, upright herbaceous perennial with a sturdy, compact, spreading habit. Leaves: Rough-textured, coarse, dark green, lanceolate to ovate leaves (3–6 in long) with prominent veins, light pubesence, and serrated margins; forms a dense basal rosette. Flowers: Prolific, daisy-like flower heads (3–4 in across) featuring brilliant golden-yellow ray florets surrounding a raised, dark chocolate-brown to black central cone; borne on stiff, erect branching stems from mid-summer through early autumn. Fruit: Inconspicuous, dry, four-angled achenes clustered within the persistent dark central cone. Seeds: Tiny, dark brown to black achenes that mature late in the season and provide an important food source for songbirds. Bark: Soft, coarse, hairy green herbaceous stems that remain non-woody and die back to the ground in winter. |
| Life Span: Perennial | 10+ years; readily spreads via underground rhizomes and self-seeding |
| Mature Height | 2–3 ft (in bloom) |
| Mature Width (Spread) | 1.5–2 ft |
| Growth Rate | Moderate to Fast |
| USDA Zone / Chill Hours | Zones 3a–9b (Extremely cold-hardy down to -40°F); No chill hours required |
PLANT CARE & CHARACTERISTICS
Light Requirements: Full Sun (Requires 6+ hours of direct sunlight daily for sturdy stem structure and dense floral coverage; tolerates light partial shade).
Water Requirements: Low to Moderate; benefits from regular moisture during growth and bloom, but quite drought-tolerant once established.
Drought Resistance: Moderate to High (Once mature, handles hot, dry summer spells exceptionally well).
Soil Type: Adaptable; thrives in average, moist but well-draining clay-loam, sandy, or loamy soils; pH 6.0–7.5; tolerates heavy clay better than most perennials. Amending the soil with organic matter like compost can help improve soil structure and fertility, promoting healthier growth and more abundant flowering.
Deer Resistance: Moderate to High (Coarse, hairy foliage texture makes it distasteful to deer and rabbits).
Pest / Disease Resistance: High overall resistance; occasionally susceptible to Septoria leaf spot in humid climates or powdery mildew if overcrowded; highly resistant to pests.
Pollination: Insect-pollinated; nectar-rich blooms attract honeybees, native bees, butterflies, and beneficial predatory insects.
Harvest: Fresh flowers make excellent, long-lasting cut floral arrangements. Massive floral cover from July through October.
Storage / Shelf Life: Cut stems last 7–10+ days in fresh water.
Pruning: Deadhead spent blooms in summer to prolong flowering, or leave dried central cones intact into fall and winter to feed goldfinches and provide winter interest. Cut dead stems down to basal foliage in late winter or early spring before new growth emerges. Dividing clumps every few years can help rejuvenate older plants and prevent overcrowding.