Rudbeckia hirta 'Sonora' – Sunny annual bloomer for borders and cut flowers

Rudbeckia hirta 'Sonora' is a beautiful annual plant known for its bright yellow flowers with a dark brown center and long-lasting blooms. This sunflower-like plant is perfect for gardens, borders, flower beds, window boxes, and cut flowers, bringing a cheerful, summery touch to any landscaping project. 'Sonora' combines striking color, robust growth, and ease of care, making it a favorite with both amateur gardeners and professional growers.

Characteristics of Rudbeckia hirta 'Sonora'

'Sonora' develops sturdy, upright stems 50–70 cm tall, each crowned with large, bright yellow flowers with a contrasting dark brown center. The flowers bloom from late spring to early autumn, providing gardens with long-lasting color and visual impact.

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 'Sonora' not only a visual eye-catcher, but also ecologically valuable as it attracts bees, butterflies, and other pollinators.

Cultivation and care

Rudbeckia hirta 'Sonora' 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.

'Sonora' grows quickly and produces sturdy, upright flowers, ideal for solitary use, group plantings or borders.

Harvest and applications

Although Rudbeckia hirta 'Sonora' 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 'Sonora'

1. Striking colour: Bright yellow flowers with a dark centre provide a sunny appearance.

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 'Sonora'?

Rudbeckia hirta 'Sonora' 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, 'Sonora' offers consistent quality, strong stems, and an ecologically valuable plant.

With Rudbeckia hirta 'Sonora' 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.