Garden Spotlight: American Gold Rush Rudbeckia
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This month’s Garden Spotlight kicks off with a brand new addition to our Greenhouses: American Gold Rush Rudbeckia!
Come visit our Home & Garden stores to see our bountiful selection of this beautiful Black Eyed Susan variety. First introduced in 2018, consider this powerhouse perennial a plant miracle thanks to its total resistance to the Septoria Leaf Spot! The disease causes the foliage of many popular Rudbeckia varieties to brown out and die. But, you won’t see it putting a damper on the American Gold Rush Rudbeckia! This flower boasts much thinner, fuzzier leaves that thus far present no evidence of fungal activity, even in the most humid and moist conditions.
Its resistance to disease is only the start of its awesomeness! Here’s why you should buy these during your next trip to Stauffers:
Qualities that Shine
Let’s dive in to why we’re shining the spotlight on this gem! First, the American Gold Rush Rudbeckia leads the pack in terms of must-have Summer perennials. It produces bold, golden-yellow flowers with black centers blooming from late Summer to early Fall. On top of its striking color, it stands out in your garden by reaching heights between 20-26 inches. It grows fairly compact, only spreading between 40-46 inches, which in most cases makes it easier to maintain. Hardy in zones 4-9, it maintains a medium growth rate while providing long-lasting blooms that will catch the eyes of all your neighbors. Its deep green foliage contrasts well with its flower color, further demonstrating its beauty.
Luckily, you won’t have to worry about critters coming along to nibble on your American Gold Rush Rudbeckia. Both rabbits and deer avoid them, though pollinators can’t get enough! This perennial makes for an excellent addition to your pollinator garden. Hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees will pay them a visit to snack on pollen and drink up their sweet nectar.
Care
For those with busy schedules, this plant is not very picky. It has average soil requirements, just make sure the soil is well-draining. It prefers a fairly neutral soil pH, but will accept slightly alkaline to slightly acidic. Like most rudbeckia, water roughly 1 inch per week, making sure that you do not overwater. Because it has such low water requirements, this perennial actually tends to thrive in dry soils. Once established, it tolerates both periods of drought and even those hot and humid Summers.
The American Gold Rush Rudbeckia also prefers full to partial direct sunlight. They give off a glowing appearance when basking in the Summer sun. You’ll also glow knowing how little you have to worry about them! They require next to no fertilization, unless the soil is particularly poor. In that case, you can mix in about 2 inches of compost when planting and layer in an additional inch of compost each following Spring. It’s beneficial to deadhead spent flowers to encourage newer, long-lasting blooms for you to enjoy!
These perennials are amazingly disease-resistant. They also fair well in warding off pests and other common problems. Did we mention that they make for excellent cut flowers? Wait until your flowers are fully opened up before you create your gorgeous bouquet or floral centerpiece. Once cut, they maintain their beauty for a desirable time frame.
Uses
Finally, now that you know how great the American Gold Rush Rudbeckia is, let’s talk about how you can implement them in your garden. This perennial is quite versatile, allowing you to be very creative in how you position it. Whether you plant them in the ground or pot them in a raised bed or container, as long as you provide them with the minimal care that they need, they will thrive.
In the garden, their compact growing style allows them to fit among your most spacious plants. Contrast their golden-yellow color against blues, pinks, purples, and reds for added value. Try positioning them near Allium, Salvia, Coneflowers, and Butterfly Bushes. You can even mix in some Gaillardia, darker-colored Daylilies, Hollyhocks and Asters. Plant them in clumps in late Spring and use to fill in borders, walkways, and fences. Since pollinators like hummingbirds actively search them out, it might be a good idea to keep them within total visibility. On gorgeous Summer days you might just catch one paying your Rudbeckia a visit!
Pot them alone on your porch or patio as a true spotlight. Or, you can plant them as a thriller in a container garden among fillers and spillers, like sweet potato vine. Just make sure that they receive enough sunlight if placed under an overhang. Pick out a contrasting colored container from our stores to complement their bloom color, and allow plenty of room for them to grow into their total potential. If your plant grows too big for its container, you can propagate it. Use 4 to 6 inch cuttings below the node from your healthy American Gold Rush Rudbeckia. Next, plant them in appropriately sized containers in moist, well-drained soil. Water consistently every week and watch them grow!
Overall, their easy-to-grow and long-blooming nature makes them perfect for just about any gardening scenario that your landscape provides.
Visit Our Home & Garden Stores!
We hope that this spotlight encourages you to come visit our greenhouses to pick up the American Gold Rush Rudbeckia. We are in love with this perennial and the value that it adds to our landscapes. As it blooms thru early Fall, now is the time to take some home to add to your garden or container!
Talk to our in-store experts for additional tips on caring for this plant, and click thru to our sales flyer for more Home & Garden specials!
Find your local Stauffers of Kissel Home & Garden Store today!