The industry standard in rudbeckia is the Goldsturm variety, which is widely available in Louisiana. Normally, this variety flowers twice during the year. A good bloom occurs in late spring through midsummer, and you can get some fall flowers, too.

A new variety that was developed from Goldsturm is Early Bird Gold. It is a great landscape performer and was found by Dupont Nursery in Plaquemine, Louisiana, to be an earlier-blooming sport of Goldsturm.

Both of these are very hardy perennials. Divide them every three years to keep your planting vigorous. Plant them in full sun. Plants are drought-tolerant.

A new similar rudbeckia is Little Goldstar. This is a new breeding breakthrough and is a dwarf-growing equivalent of Goldsturm. It blooms earlier and matures at about 24 inches tall. These rudbeckias are disease-resistant and deer-resistant.

Rudbeckias perform best in the full-sun landscape.

Allen Owings
Rick Bogren