Rudbeckia hirta Denver Daisy | Black-Eyed Susan

Rudbeckia hirta ‘Denver Daisy’ is a spectacular, fast-growing Black-Eyed Susan with exceptionally large golden-yellow flowers, a rich mahogany-red ring and a prominent dark centre. The striking two-tone flowers can reach approximately 15 cm across and are carried on strong stems throughout summer and into autumn.

An early-flowering, medium-height variety reaching around 60 cm, Denver Daisy combines excellent garden performance with outstanding value as a cut flower. When sown early, it can flower in its first year and continue producing blooms for months.

Plant Information

• Botanical name: Rudbeckia hirta
• Variety: Denver Daisy
• Common name: Black-Eyed Susan / Gloriosa Daisy
• Type: Short-lived perennial, often grown as an annual
• Height: Approx. 60 cm
• Flower size: Up to approx. 15 cm
• Flower colour: Golden yellow with mahogany-red ring and dark centre
• Exposure: Full sun
• Flowering: Summer – autumn
• Germination: Approx. 8–14 days
• Germination temperature: 20–22 °C
• Crop time: Spring 14–17 weeks; summer 12–14 weeks
• Use: Cut flowers, borders, flower beds, pots and containers
• Pollinators: Attractive to bees and other beneficial insects

Sowing & Germination

For earlier flowering, sow indoors approximately 6–8 weeks before the last expected frost.

Surface sow the seeds onto moist, well-drained seed compost and press them gently onto the surface. Do not cover heavily, as light helps germination.

Keep at approximately 20–22 °C. Under good conditions, germination usually takes 8–14 days.

Keep the substrate evenly moist but not waterlogged.

Transplanting

Transplant seedlings into individual pots or larger cells once they are large enough to handle.

Plant outdoors after the risk of frost has passed. Choose a sunny position for strong plants and abundant flowering.

Seeds can also be direct sown outdoors around the time of the last spring frost, although starting indoors generally provides earlier flowers.

Growing Conditions

Denver Daisy performs best in full sun and reasonably fertile, well-drained soil.

Rudbeckia is a long-day flowering plant. Long summer days encourage flower initiation once plants are sufficiently mature, making it naturally well suited to summer flowering.

Water regularly while plants establish, but avoid permanently wet soil.

Flowering & Cutting

Denver Daisy is particularly valuable for its long flowering season. Regular removal of faded flowers encourages the plant to continue producing new blooms.

The strong stems and exceptionally large flowers also make it an excellent variety for the cut flower garden.

Harvest flowers when they are freshly open. Regular cutting can encourage further flower production.

Why Grow Denver Daisy?

The combination of golden-yellow petals, a dramatic mahogany-red ring and an almost black centre makes Denver Daisy much more distinctive than a classic yellow Rudbeckia.

It is an excellent choice for adding strong late-summer colour to naturalistic gardens and cutting gardens and combines beautifully with ornamental grasses, echinacea, cosmos, zinnias and other summer flowers.

Perfect for

Cut flower gardens • Sunny borders • Naturalistic gardens • Summer and autumn beds • Pots • Containers • Pollinator gardens

Rudbeckia hirta ‘Denver Daisy’ is an excellent choice for gardeners looking for a fast-growing, long-flowering Rudbeckia with huge two-tone flowers that performs beautifully both in the garden and as a cut flower.