Rudbeckia hirta 'Prairy Sun' – Radiant annual sunflower-like bloomer

Rudbeckia hirta 'Prairy Sun' is a beautiful annual plant known for its bright yellow flowers with a dark brown center and long blooming period. This sunflower-like variety is ideal for gardens, borders, flower beds, window boxes, and cut flowers, bringing a summery and cheerful touch to any garden. 'Prairy Sun' combines bright color, robust growth, and ease of care, making it a favorite with both amateur gardeners and professional growers.

Characteristics of Rudbeckia hirta 'Prairy Sun'

'Prairy Sun' develops sturdy, upright stems 50–70 cm tall, each crowned with large, bright yellow flowers with a dark center. The flowers bloom from late spring to early autumn, providing long-lasting color and a striking appearance in gardens and borders.

Key Features:

• Flower colour: Bright yellow with dark brown heart.

• Flowering period: June to September, long-lasting and reliable flowering.

• Height: 50–70 cm, ideal for medium-sized borders and group plantings.

• Leaf: Dark green, slightly hairy, forms an attractive base for the flowers.

Its bright flowers and robust structure make Rudbeckia hirta 'Prairy Sun' not only visually attractive but also ecologically valuable, attracting bees, butterflies, and other pollinators.

Cultivation and care

Rudbeckia hirta 'Prairy Sun' is a low-maintenance annual plant that grows well in various soil types and weather conditions.

Important cultivation advice:

• Location: Sun to partial shade for optimal flowering.

• Soil: Well-drained, nutritious and slightly moist; avoid waterlogging.

• Water: Water regularly during dry periods; mature plants are fairly drought tolerant.

• Care: Remove spent flowers (deadheading) to prolong flowering.

• Sow: Sow indoors from March-April in seed trays, transplant after the frost; or directly into the ground from April-May.

'Prairy Sun' grows quickly and produces sturdy, upright flowers, making it ideal for solitary use, group plantings or borders.

Harvest and applications

Although Rudbeckia hirta 'Prairy Sun' is primarily an ornamental plant, it also makes an excellent cut flower. Its sturdy stems and striking flowers make it an excellent choice for bouquets, flower arrangements, and decorative uses. In the garden, this variety provides long-lasting color and a sunny appearance, ideal for borders, flower beds, and window boxes.

Benefits of Rudbeckia hirta 'Prairy Sun'

1. Bright yellow flowers: Create a striking and sunny look in any garden.

2. Long flowering period: From late spring to early autumn.

3. Annual simplicity: Easy to sow and maintain.

4. Attractive to pollinators: Supports bees, butterflies and other insects.

5. Versatile use: Solitary, in groups, in borders or as a cut flower.

Why choose Rudbeckia hirta 'Prairy Sun'?

Rudbeckia hirta 'Prairy Sun' combines vibrant color, robust growth, and versatile uses in a single plant. For amateur gardeners, this means a long period of color and life in the garden with minimal care. For professional applications such as municipal planting, commercial borders, or cut flower production, 'Prairy Sun' offers consistent quality, strong stems, and an ecologically valuable plant.

With Rudbeckia hirta 'Prairy Sun' you bring a radiant, low-maintenance annual into your home that will give borders, flowerbeds, and flower boxes a sunny appearance well into the summer.