Black-eyed Susan 'Toto Gold' - 5 pieces

Rudbeckia hirta 'Toto' (Toto Series)

CHF 25.65

Compact habit, about 45–55 cm tall
Golden-yellow flowers with a dark centre
Flowers from July to October
Good for pots and window boxes
Bee-friendly, open flower heads

Rudbeckia hirta 'Toto Gold' is one of the low-growing rudbeckias and stays nicely compact at 45–55 cm. From July to October it shows golden-yellow flowers with a dark centre, making it suitable for the front of the border and for pots where larger varieties would be too bulky.

About this variety

The Toto series was selected for low, bushy growth. 'Toto Gold' bears many golden-yellow flowers whose dark centres form a strong contrast. The plant stays compact and does not flop apart.

At about 45–55 cm, 'Toto Gold' belongs at the edge or in the front row of the border. It likes sun to partial shade and moist, loamy soil. Blue sage, catmint or low grasses go well with it. It is especially practical in containers and window boxes, where it glows all through late summer.

The open flowers attract bees and butterflies. The stems cut well for small posies. Rudbeckia hirta is rather short-lived and is often grown like an annual summer flower, but in return it flowers for months without a break. If you pot up a few plants in autumn and keep them light and frost-free, you can plant them out again the following spring. That way the golden ribbon along the border edge returns the next year, and flowering starts earlier.

Planting

Plant in spring, from March to May, in sun to partial shade. Make the planting hole twice the size of the root ball, with the root collar just covered. A spacing of 35–50 cm is enough. In pots, use good container compost and a pot with a drainage hole. Water in thoroughly.

Care

Keep the soil evenly moist; water more often in pots than in beds. Give compost in spring or, for pots, a slow-release fertiliser. Deadhead regularly and the plant will flower until October. In exposed locations it does not reliably survive the winter.

Specifications

Botanical name: Rudbeckia hirta 'Toto' (Toto Series)
Genus: Coneflower
Class: Various
Supplied as: Bare roots
Flower colour: Yellow
Flowering time: July, August, September, October
Flowering season: High summer, Late summer and autumn
Height: 50 cm
Spread: 50 cm
Habit: Bushy
Position: Sun, Partial shade
Suitable for: Bed, Wildlife garden and meadow, Cutting garden
Soil type: Clay, Loamy
Drainage: Well-drained
Soil moisture: Moist
Soil pH: Neutral
Soil note: Suitable for many Swiss garden soils. A loose structure and good drainage matter more than a particular soil type.
Planting time: March, April, May, September, October
Planting depth: Just cover the root collar
Spacing: 35–50 cm
Number per m²: 4
Hardiness in Switzerland: Not hardy, overwinter frost-free
Hardiness by location: Not hardy, overwinter frost-free
Overwintering note: Not reliably hardy outdoors in Switzerland. Depending on the plant, lift tubers, bulbs or rhizomes in time or overwinter the container frost-free.
For containers: Well suited to containers
Container note: Grow in a sufficiently large container with drainage holes and good drainage.
Cut flower: Suitable as a cut flower
Naturalising: Not suitable
Naturalising note: Persists for several years in a suitable spot, but does not normally spread over larger areas on its own.
For bees and butterflies: Pollinator-friendly
RHS hardiness: H3