I never see it anywhere, but it should be used much more. That's an interesting story about it's discovery. I wonder why it wasn't classified as a unique subspecies of R. submentosa?

I have never seen it anywhere but my own backyard, lol! I saw this in a catalog years ago and loved it immediately and had to buy it. And I still love it in my garden. Very carefree, hardy, eye-catching - most people who see it in my yard comment on it. I for one certainly don't know why it's not more widely seen.

:)
Dee

Not sure why it wasn't classified as a subspecies. Maybe registered for purposes of royalties although that's always a fuzzy area that I never seem to fully grasp.

Just for the heck of it I checked with a broker who represents a couple dozen wholesale nurseries, including two BIG perennial growers. The closest wholesale grower was in Ammon, Kentucky and the two big perennial growers, Midwest Ground Covers and Twixwood Nursery do not offer it. Maybe there are some propagation issues/costs that make it difficult? More sleuthing on this later in the week.

I checked to see if seeds were available for it. but nothing. It's a stable variant, so it should definitely grow true from seed. Those weedy coneflowers.

I had two of them at one time. As I recall one of them was a shorter version. I really liked them but without going into detail I didnt plant either in the most hospitable location and slowly but surely they faded away...permanently. (It is rare I see HE in a nursery these days)

https://www.gardenweb.com/discussions/1676683/henry-eilers-now-opening#n=9

I've been growing it for a few years and love the interesting flower. I wish it would stay more upright but this year I managed to get ahead of my tallest one with supports. It's at least as tall as me and I'm 5' 8". A second plant was moved this spring so it's not quite as tall.

I do see it for sale occasionally in better stocked nurseries. Last fall I planted 'Little Henry'. It really hasn't taken off but I've had very little rain here since April.

5'8" eh? That is one tall Rudbeckia!!

Last fall I planted 'Little Henry'.

Thats the name of the shorter version!

I got my Henry Eilers several years ago from Bluestone and I love those quilled petals. It has done well even in less sun than it probably wants and is only about 5 feet tall. I do give it support. I see that Bluestone currently has it. I'll have to look around for a Little Henry--I love shorter plants.

Everyone still liking this plant ? I usually avoid plants that flop but after reading the good things here I am debating it.

These seasonal pics also peaked my interest in it