Ask the experts: Q&A with Jessie Carle

What are the best conditions to grow Rudbeckia, either in a container or the landscape?

We recommend planting Rudbeckia in containers any time between late winter to late summer. Rudbeckia can take anywhere from 6-10 weeks to transform into a sellable product, requiring long days to flower. These flower power machines will give you an abundant flower display from mid-summer all the way into the fall. For the best results plant them in full sun, but they can tolerate being planted in part shade.

What pests or diseases can impact Rudbeckia?

The main pests we faced with Rudbeckia in our greenhouses this past growing season were caterpillars, thrips and aphids. For disease, Botrytis can become an issue in the greenhouse if the plant is held in a container for a long time. The leaf canopy can become quite dense, making it hard to get air flow to the crown. Regular scouting and using preventative strategies can help reduce pest and disease pressure. These challenges do not seem to be as much of an issue in the landscape.

There are a lot of different Rudbeckia varieties for growers to choose from. What are some specific varieties you would recommend?

Our hybridizing team has been putting a lot of time and energy into producing a Rudbeckia that is more resistant to Septoria leaf spot than traditional varieties on the market. Years of research later, we have ‘Treasure Trove’, which has a similar appearance to ‘Goldsturm’ without the susceptibility to disease.

What are your favorite things about Rudbeckia ‘Treasure Trove’?

My personal garden is all about the pollinators. I love the sight of happy bees and butterflies doing their thing. Rudbeckia ‘Treasure Trove’ is a great option for a native pollinator plant that will add loads of color. With its long-lasting blooms, I can enjoy this plant for months. It also makes lovely cut flowers. With how many blooms it produces, you can hardly even tell you took a few for your table.