Rudbeckia hirta Prairie Sun | Black-Eyed Susan | Cut Flower

Rudbeckia hirta Prairie Sun | Black-Eyed Susan

Rudbeckia hirta 'Prairie Sun', commonly known as Black-Eyed Susan, is an award-winning variety that produces brilliant golden-yellow blooms with a unique green eye. With huge 15 cm  flowers on sturdy stems, this variety holds up well to weather conditions and is an excellent choice for cut flower production, bedding displays, and landscape planting.

This vigorous, heat-tolerant variety is the sister of 'Amarillo Gold', offering long-lasting color in gardens, containers, and borders. Its strong, upright habit and continuous flowering make it an ideal selection for both home gardeners and professional growers.

Why Choose Rudbeckia hirta 'Prairie Sun'?

✔ Award-winning variety – FleuroSelect Gold Medal & AAS Winner
✔ Bright golden-yellow petals with a unique green eye – A standout in gardens & floral arrangements
✔ Large 15 cm  flowers on sturdy stems – Weather-resistant and long-lasting
✔ Perfect for cut flowers, beds & landscapes – Vigorous and easy to grow
✔ Thrives in warm conditions – Heat and sun-loving for extended summer blooms

Growing Information:

• Crop Time:
  • Spring: 15–18 weeks
  • Summer: 13–15 weeks
• Height: 75 cm
• Flower Size: 15 cm
  
• Sun Exposure: Full sun
• Best Uses: Bedding, landscapes, containers, cut flowers

Sowing & Germination:

• Sowing Time:
  • November for April flowering (pots)
  • April for June flowering (pots)
• Sowing Method:
  • 2–3 seeds per plug or direct sowing into final pot
• Germination Time: 8–14 days at 20–22°C

Growing On & Care:

• Transplanting: Move plugs to 11 cm  or larger pots
• Temperature:
  • Day: 15–18°C
  • Night: 10–13°C
  • Temperatures below 16°C can slow growth and cause leaf reddening
• Day Length:
  • Requires a minimum of 14 hours of daylight to initiate flowering
  • Day extension beyond 16 hours may cause stem elongation

Soil & Nutrition:

• Soil Type:
  • Well-drained mix with 20–30% clay
  • pH 5.8–6.2
• Fertilization:
  • Weekly feeding with 100–150 ppm nitrogen
  • Balanced fertilizer with a N:K₂O ratio of 1:1.5
  • Avoid high ammonium & nitrogen levels
  • Apply magnesium sulfate (0.05%) 1–2 times to prevent deficiency
  • Iron-chelate (if pH > 6.0) 1–2 times to prevent iron deficiency

Additional Benefits:

• Weather-resistant blooms – Sturdy stems withstand wind & rain
• Long-lasting flowers – Ideal for fresh-cut arrangements
• Heat-tolerant & easy to grow – Perfect for summer gardens
• Excellent for mass plantings & borders – Provides bold, eye-catching color

Enhance your garden with the award-winning beauty of Rudbeckia hirta 'Prairie Sun'! Order your seeds today and enjoy vibrant golden blooms all season long!