Vera,

The side lesson in Plant ID here is why horticulturalists prefer botanic names to common names.

There are no hard and fast rules governing the use of common names, and many gardeners will use the term "black-eyed Susan" to refer to most of the plants in the Rudbeckia family. The problem comes when a gardener sees a planting of Rudbeckia 'Goldsturm' and wants that plant, but asks for "black-eyed Susan" and is given a R. hirta variety, or vice versa. Two plants that will perform very differently but may be called by the same common name!

The info on your link above about R. 'Goldsturm' not being true from seed is correct. Unfortunately, too many growers have grown this plant from seed and not division and the outstanding qualities of the original cultivar have probably been diminished in the trade.

By the way, although most people say "gold-stRum" the proper spelling and pronounciation is "gold-stuRm."

Enjoy your class!

V.

Thanks Veronica :)

I understand the importance of the botanical names to common names, but what I want to know is how do you know when you are buying seed for R. hirta that you are not buying a not true from seed fulgida 'Goldsturm'?

Vera

If seed is sold as 'R. hirta' you should not get R. fulgida unless your vendor is unreliable. And if you buy 'R. fulgida' you may or may not get 'Goldsturm', which is just one of many varieties of R. fulgida.

Bottom line: 'Black-eyed susan' is a common name for ALL (or at least most) species in the genus Rudbeckia, not just R. hirta. There are probably dozens of species and countless horticultural varieties in this genus. You need to be specific about what species and/or cultivar you ask for, and be sure you are dealing with a reliable vendor.

"were R. hirta, a annual, biennial or short-lived perennial depending on geographic location???"

The lifespan of the plants has more to do with the genetics of the plants,this is one of those species that can be all of the above - depending on the population.

The seed form of'Goldstrum'('Goldsturm' by the originator)is correctly labeled as:

Rudbeckia fulgida var. sullivantii 'Goldstrum'

I see what you are saying John_Mo...
Thanks :)

Vera