Rudbeckia hirta Cherokee Sunset

The Rudbeckia x hirta 'Cherokee Sunset' is a perennial plant ephemeral created by Thompson & Morgan after ten years of rigorous selection. It stands out for its double or semi-double flowers in warm colours, reminiscent of the sunset of an Indian summer. The qualities of this hybrid variety were rewarded in the United States with an "All America Selection Award".

Its size is slightly smaller than that of other hirta species, which reach a height of 100cm (39in).

The Rudbeckia 'Cherokee Sunset' is a perennial ephemeral plant cultivated annually or biennially. In the garden, it will not last more than 2 to 3 years, but it easily self-seeds.
The flowers of Rudbeckias Cherokee Sunset are large solitary or semi-double daisies (heads) with petals of golden yellow, orange, bronze, or mahogany. The diameter of the flowers is about 7 to 10 cm (3 to 4in). The many flowers, repeating from July to October, form an impressive mass. The long and strong stems of the Rudbeckia 'Cherokee Sunset' make it suitable for planting in flower beds and provide a source of fresh flowers for creating beautiful summer bouquets.

At the end of the summer season, the petals fade and fall, and the centre of the flowers dries and becomes papery. The flowers can then be picked and incorporated into a dried bouquet.

The foliage consists of a tuft of lanceolate basal leaves, toothed, dark green, measuring 5 to 10 cm (2 to 4in), from which robust and branched floral stems rise. The stems bear narrower cauline leaves, which are somewhat ovate.

Hardy, the Rudbeckia x hirta 'Cherokee Sunset' likes sunny or semi-shaded locations. The soil prefers rich, heavy, and moist but well-drained soil. It is a variety particularly resistant to rainy weather.

An ecological asset: Throughout the summer, the nectar-rich flowers of rudbeckias attract pollinating insects and butterflies to your garden. This is an excellent way to improve your garden's ecosystem and promote fruit and vegetable production. In autumn, you can admire the constant ballet of birds that come to feed on the mature seeds they find in the hearts of the dried flowers.