Rudbeckia fulgida early bird gold
Rudbeckia fulgida early bird gold, it may look exactly like Rudbeckia Goldsturm, Don’t be fooled, there is a very interesting difference.
This unusual strain of Rudbeckia was found growing in a field of Goldsturm Rudbeckias at Dupont nursery in Louisiana. It was closely watched over a period of several years and found to consistently bloom two months earlier than Goldsturm.
Here in our garden in Cheshire UK, flowers of early bird did indeed start to open in June, fully two months before Goldsturm.
We are now at the end of October and early bird is still in bloom with Goldsturm also thriving in the border opposite.
We have a position in the front garden where we intended planting Goldsturm to bloom next year, what’s the point! Goldsturm does remarkably well from August through till the beginning of November, but Early bird starts blooming in June.
There is nothing to suggest that this Rudbeckia is short lived or has any negative features, in fact the one which we have, came to Cheshire with us from Aberdeen, where we had it in a container. Its probably performed better here in Cheshire, where the climate is a little kinder, however planted in a sheltered sunny position in Aberdeen there is no reason to think that it would not be successful.
Regular perennial Rudbeckias start to bloom as a result of day length. For whatever reason this part of the make up has not kicked in with Early Bird Gold, resulting in this unusual ability to flower two months earlier than its parent plant.
Our plant which was tucked into a small space, (nothing new there) leaving it pretty much crowded out, still managed to show blooms in June. I have replanted it in a more favourable position for next year and look forward to it doing even better.
Early Bird Gold, a great perennial plant which does not require staking.
Hardiness — fully hardy
Height — 60cm/24″ although ours grew a few inches taller than this
Position — full sun/part shade
Soil — seems to be happiest with soil on the heavy side (free draining)
Propagate — After three/four years divide plants in Spring or Autumn
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Rudbeckia Goldsturm
This is Goldsturm in our back garden in late August. Three quite young plants placed about 18 inches apart. looking good in their first season.
Nothing else to add about this Rudbeckia, (cone flower, black eyed susan) except to confirm that it is identical to Early Bird Gold, except for the flowering period.
It is strange how this can occur Sue, Hope it doesn’t let me down.
Thanks for dropping by Indie, I always appreciate your comments.
Hi Rick, good thing about this one is, not only does it start to flower early, it also lasts well into the Autumn.
Hi Andrea, I seem to have lost many of my old gardening friends since moving away from Aberdeen.
Gaillardia is one of the first plants which we ever had in our garden.
Hello Alistair, i am regularly a commenter while you were in Aberdeen, but seem to be forgetting regularity now. A friend from the US once sent me rudbeckia seeds, but they didnt make it here in our dry tropics. One which seems acclimatizing with us is gaillardia. About your not being able to go to NZ, i have lots of dream places which i also now resigned dreaming of, like UK, Scotland, Greece. hahaha
A certain DIY store up here has them reduced at the moment. Might be worth a look if you have the space.
I always think of Rudbeckias for autumn colour Alistair, so there is no doubt in my mind an early flowering perennial variety is a welcome addition. My Rudbeckia hirta doesn’t flower until late August/ early September and the very last flowers are just clinging on which I presume is due to the mild weather.
Oh how interesting! I love Rudbeckia, and the earlier you can get blooms, definitely the better!
how interesting, that they look the same but are different varieties and have different growing patterns. I often find plants are unpredictable, after all they don’t read their labels!
I think we are on to a winner here Janet. I have already potted up a couple of small rooted sections from the plant, something I intend doing more often than I have in the past.
Sounds like an excellent variation in every respect Alistair, I am sure it will soon take over as the most-grown rudbeckia with that flowering period, amazing.
Helene, Rudbeckia like Echinacea do prefer a sunny position,although the Rudbeckia seems to do not bad in semi shade. No real need to plant Early bird and Goldsturm together as, although Early bird starts two months before Goldsturm it still carries on blooming until November.
I have never grown any rudbeckias as in my old, shady garden these would not have thrived – your post has made me look at these again. In my new, much sunnier garden I have to look at plants I have never grown before. Surely to get the best of both worlds you would plant both of them together, and you will get 6 months of flowering 🙂
Think I will look out for Goldstar Annette, shorter varieties could be very handy.
Cheers for the update Donna.
Not all rudbeckias bloom in spring here Alistair so your post is good for the States too. Especially the Goldstrum as there was only one found to bloom in spring here in the States as you pointed out in your wonderful post. 🙂
Donna, Here I am banging on about a great find, and you confirm that Rudbeckia in the States bloom in Spring anyway. Thanks for this valuable information, anyone else reading my post it (applies to UK garden conditions)
That is really worth noting. I have the usual Goldsturm at the back of my border, but would be wonderful to have a variety that flowered two months longer. I will look out for some.
I have a lovely dwarf Rudbeckia flowering its heart out at the front of my border. It is larger than it was last year, but again it doesn’t need staking. It is called Little Goldstar. It can’t claim any longer flowering period though.
Here my rudbeckia hirta will bloom many times in late spring. I started them by seed and they volunteer all over and are short-lived perennial which is why I let them seed.
Donna, I will have to see what you are saying regarding Spring Rudbeckia, annual variety?
An earlier blooming rudbeckia is most welcome….many rudbeckias are native here and I love them for late spring to early fall color…..I just did a profile of a rudbeckia this week too!
Hard to go wrong with this one Sunil.
Hello Alistair – wow – what a discovery! I’m glad I came across this because I’ll certainly make a note of this variety when I come to thinking about our large herbaceous border. With two months more flower power and no obvious defects or disadvantages, what’s not to like?!